University Library News Release
Date: March 20, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jeanette Smith, NMSU Library, (575) 646-7492, jcsmith@lib.nmsu.edu
Willey Donates "Student" Sculpture to NMSU Library
The New Mexico State University Library announces the gift of a bronze sculpture, "The Student." The sculpture is displayed on the second floor of Zuhl Library.
Irene K. Willey donated the sculpture in memory of her late husband, Darrell S. Willey, a lifelong teacher, mentor and scholar. During thirty-six years with New Mexico State University, Darrell Willey worked in educational management as a department head, director of ERIC Cress and director of the Educational Research Center.
Willey said that it was the perfect piece to represent "much that Darrell stood for and modeled-remaining excited about learning all his life." She added, "I trust that the value of the message as well as the quality of the art will enhance my alma mater and represent the contributions Darrell made to NMSU during his career."
She recounted how she and her husband had first seen the sculpture by Gary Price at a gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona, and she commented that she would love to see it in the NMSU Library. When she pursued the purchase as a memorial, it was no longer available, so she commissioned a new casting from Price.
Price said of "The Student," which portrays a studious octogenarian, "He remains the one who refuses to stop taking notes-to stop the learning process." In a lighter vein, one viewer said of the sculpture, "It is sure taking this guy a long time to graduate."
For more information, please contact the Library Administration at (575) 646-1508.
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