Stella Boyle Smith Gallery Endowed at Bradbury Art Museum
JONESBORO – The entry gallery to Bradbury Art Museum at Arkansas State University now bears the name Stella Boyle Smith Gallery, in recognition of an Arkansas philanthropist whose devotion to the arts continues through her charitable trust.
The Stella Boyle Smith Charitable Trust, through trustees Catherine H. and Michael R. Mayton, endowed the exhibition space.
Stella Boyle Smith Gallery (SBSG) and other individual spaces within Bradbury Art Museum (BAM) feature changing exhibitions of contemporary art in all media, along with programs that promote the understanding of the visual arts and its significance to society.
"This gift will broaden our impact, the public’s benefit, and help the region’s citizens achieve a more fulfilled life through the transformative power of the arts," commented Les Christensen, BAM director.
At any given time there may be wood carvings in one area, traditional landscape paintings in another, a series of photographs in a third and so on, offering visitors a broader variety of artwork, greater number of exhibitions, and better opportunity to be intellectually and emotionally engaged.
BAM produces a series of educational workshops, lectures, presentations, discussions and other creative activities to coincide with the exhibition schedule. The museum also continues to initiate interdisciplinary creative endeavors such as poetry readings, music recitals and dance performances held within the museum and SBSG.
The gift will permanently fund exhibitions and complementary programming in the Smith Gallery at BAM, which is part of Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Dr.
“Stella Boyle Smith Gallery” will be designated by permanent signage. Additionally, a plaque explaining the dedication of the gallery will be mounted within SBSG, Christensen added.
BAM hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, and by appointment. The exhibitions and public programming are admission-free and open to the public. For additional information, one may visit the website BradburyArtMuseum.org or contact the museum at (870) 972‑2567.
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