The art of Business

Hexagonal and circular mobiles dance above students' heads as they ascend the stairs to their classes. An impressionistic scene of an English town at twilight catches the light of a nearby window and sparkles with pink and blue flashes. Prints of Chinese door gods stand sentry over an administration office. No, this isn't the Fine Arts building, this is the Kelley School of Business' Graduate and Executive Education Center.\nWith the opening of the school's new building in 2002, Kelley School professors and administrators wanted to create an atmosphere that encouraged critical thinking and ingenuity. They turned to the school's diverse art collection as a source for motivation. Featuring more than 200 pieces, the Kelley School's art collection seeks to inspire students and create an escape from "business as usual." \nSince the opening of the new building, Joseph Waldman, a professor of business administration, has teamed with the dean of the Kelley School, Dan Smith, and Paul Robins, executive director for administration, to increase donations to the collection. A photo story in the summer 2005 issue of the Kelley Alumni magazine served to increase awareness about the collection and encourage donations. \n"We wanted people to know that we're interested in this, that we're building a collection," Waldman said. \nThe trio is currently focusing on decorating the Executive Center and will begin decorating the undergraduate building after its renovation.\nThe Kelley School first began its art collection in the mid-1970s, he said. Waldman served as associate dean of administration for 12 years and director of the undergraduate program for 16 years. During his time as an administrator, Waldman said he believed in the importance of a business school art collection. For him, art serves as a bridge between the worlds of business and everyday life.\n"Sometimes it's easy for us (in the business school) to isolate ourselves and forget what's really going on," Waldman said. "We need to get away from feeling that we're not connected to anything." \nWaldman said he also feels art is necessary for the mental health of business students. \n"I think our students involved in that awful stuff called accounting and finance should have something to take their minds off of it," he said.\nPieces in the collection come from several different sources. Most pieces were added through private donation, with Waldman, himself, donating more than 20 pieces. The IU art collection contributed several works, including pieces from Echo Press, a fine arts printmaking workshop that operated on campus from 1979 to 1995. Donations also come from companies participating in the executive training program at Kelley. After company employees complete classes in the program, companies often donate art as a thank-you gift to the school, Waldman said.\nThe diversity of the collection reflects its diverse contributors. As an Asian art collector, Waldman donated several Japanese woodblock prints of samurai, actors and pagodas. On a tour of the school's collection, he pointed out some of his favorites, including a series of six prints of cats from 1914.\n"We have many masters of business administration students from countries in Asia, and we wanted the art to help them appreciate their culture and feel more welcome here," he said.\nIn addition to pieces from Echo Press, the IU Art Collection loaned mobiles crafted by former art professor Morton Bradley Jr. The most unique pieces from the IU group are a series of gravestone rubbings from New England, completed as part of a folklore dissertation by Ann Parker and Avon Neal. \nAlthough most of the pieces hang in visible areas of the Graduate Center, several paintings and prints are in administrative offices and conference rooms not easily accessible to students. Junior Henry Chang would like to see more of the art in places where everyone can enjoy it. \n"They should put it in places where more students are. What's the point of having a painting if you're going to put it in a safe?" he said.\nJunior Matt Koeberlein believes that art improves its surroundings no matter where it is located. \n"I think it's a good idea in general," he said. "Artwork always adds something wherever it is." \nAlthough the collection continues to grow, Waldman said he would like to see much more art adorning the walls of both business buildings. During the tour of the collection, Waldman gestured at bare walls lining a hallway.\n"See this?" Waldman said. "This is a problem"