I first attended SIU in the fall of 84. Three majors later, a 2 -year stint in the army, and a BA degree behind me, left me in at Pinch Penny Pub, speaking with Joyce Jolliff the long-time academic advisor for the School of Art and Design. That conversation put me on the pathway to my BFA focusing in sculpture. So, like many others, it was a long and winding road to get there, but there was lots of living along the way.

SIU was an amazing place to be an undergrad. I think there were 15-20 graduate students around, just in the Sculpture Program. Which left me working in and around folks with more experience and a wide variety of experiences, having come from all over the country and world to study. We also had a steady stream of guest artists, which gave us the opportunity to work alongside them as they created artwork.

The program was big enough that it supported 3 professors, Jerry Monteith, Aldon Addington, and Tom Walsh. All bringing their unique voice, philosophy and viewpoints. During my senior year, I met weekly with Walsh in the studio, scheduled for Wednesdays at 10:30am. I was always early to the studio, and I fondly remember Tom routinely coming in between 7 and 8am, and asking if we could meet early. It was so commonplace, I expected it, and always wondered why we didn’t just change the scheduled time.

The summer Iron Pours were absolutely amazing. I recall my first “Pour” meeting where Tom was sorting out who was doing what at the pour. He asked if anyone wanted to roast the lamb, and no  hands went up.  So I went ahead and volunteered. Tom handed me a set of instructions, and suddenly I was the expert. And for the next 3 summer pours, I was charged with roasting the lamb.

Today, I have many that I hold dear whom I met while studying there. Some I met as a result of those summer pours, when they came back as alumni.  Many of us went on to professorships over the years, and commonly work together or meet up at conferences. We have laughed together on many occasions, cried together on a few occasions, and regularly meet up around the country to work and make art together. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade any of it.