The Record Online

Spring/Summer 2001

Art Professor's Profiles

Guy Chase spent the spring semester on a prestigious appointment as artist in residence at the Tryon Visual Art Center in Charlotte, NC. Some of his works were featured in the the Tryon winter exhibition “Like a Prayer: A Jewish and Christian Presence in Contemporary Art.” After teaching at Greenville since 1981, Chase has decided to return to teach at his alma mater, Bethel College in St. Paul, MN. His leadership of the GC Art Department over the past several years is paying big dividends, with more students and renewed vitality in the program.

Lara Scott came to Greenville to fill in for Guy Chase, who spent the spring semester in North Carolina on a special appointment. After Chase announced he was leaving Greenville, she accepted a permanent position to fill the vacancy. Scott earned her B.A. in art from Yale University and masters of fine arts from the University of Pennsylvania. She was born in Scotland but grew up in Connecticut. Her career has included five years in Washington, DC as a research assistant at the National Museum of American Art and the Smithsonian Institution.

Steve Heilmer brought much attention to GC’s art program this spring with the completion of his four-year project, the statue of Mary. He earned his undergraduate degree at Bethel College and a masters of fine arts from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. He began teaching at GC in the 1970s but his tenure was sidetracked in 1995 when his position was eliminated in a difficult round of budget cuts, which is the main reason he accepted the commission from Seattle University. He was rehired full time at GC in 1998 and has now become head of the department.

Sharon Davis would make an interesting feature story herself. After teaching art history and fine arts as an adjunct professor this year, she will be teaching full time at GC starting next fall. She will also continue to serve as part-time curator of the Bock Museum. In the past 20 years in Greenville, Davis has been a secretary in Food Service and in Admissions. In 1987 she started pursuing a B.A. in art history with Guy Chase’s encouragement. She later earned a master of arts in art history criticism, qualifying as an art historian. She is now working on her Ph.D. at St. Louis University.

Last updated: July 17, 2001