Friday, September 3, 1982
Daily Nebraskan
Page 7
Geske retires after 32 years, leaves
special mark on Sheldon Art Gallery
Every great artist leaves his own special mark on the
world, and Norman Geske, director of Sheldon Memorial
Art Gallery, is certainly no exception.
In the words of Jon Nelson, curator of NU's Great
Plains Art Collection and past assistant director of
Sheldon, Geske "is responsible for the growth of this
institution. He was instrumental in the raising of money
to improve the collections and educational programs
here. His work has been dynamic at the Sheldon."
Geske, who has been involved with NU's art col
lections since 1950, is in his last year as director of the
gallery, as he has announced he will retire at the end
of 1982.
Sheldon is. the crowning achievement of Geske's
work here at UNL, he said, and is one of the country's
most widely admired museums.
"It can't be matched in terms of quality. It is one
of the most lavishly designed and decorated college
galleries - we didnt have to use any restraint in designing
and building it," he said.
Geske said he has no regrets about his term as director
of NU's . art galleries; particularly since the opening of
Sheldon in 1963.
"I have had a great opportunity to build a collection
of 20th century American art here. The university is
very fortunate not only because it gives money directly
to this institution, but because it also has strong local
support. That situation isn't duplicated in many, if
any , other state schools ," Geske said .
Building from a small nucleus of works from the
early 1900s, Geske has endeavored to find important
works from every major American artist of this century,
he said.
"We have tried to create in-depth collections, with
more than one medium and more than one period from
an artist's life.
The result is that Sheldon has an outstanding assort
ment of a variety of modern mediums, including
paintings, sculptures and photographs, virtually all from
the 20th century, according to Geske.
Following up on his conviction that once the arts
are made available to people they will respond to them,
Geske said he has worked to make people aware of
Sheldon.
"The consumption of art rises out of a need for it.
Once you are exposed, it becomes a permanent part
of life. If youngsters grow up with art, they don't lose
the taste for it," he said.
He also said people are more responsive to art these
days.
'There is a much greater audience now, but you can't
force people into liking it. There are some who will never
appreciate art," Geske said.
Geske said Sheldon's film series have been perhaps
its most successful programs.
"Film is the dominant art form of the time. We have
tried to make a large variety of film available, regardless
of the subject matter. Some of them have been very
controversial, but we have always given people fair
warning that they might not like such films," he said.
Geske added that he also has worked to make Sheldon
as useful as possible to everyone.
"I see the Sheldon Gallery as a valuable asset to all
students at the university, from every school, from every
department. It also has a strong link with the city of
Lincoln itself," he said.
According 'to Geske, Chancellor Martin Massengale
has appointed a committee to choose a replacement for
the directorial opening, although no selection has been
made yet.
Geske plans to keep up with the work he started
at UNL some 32 years ago.
"I intend to remain interested in what goes on here.
I want to stay involved as a private citizen," he said.
"This is an exceptional building, and we have an extra
ordinary collection. What we have is the best."
As is the case with many of the greatest artists and
their works, a full appreciation of them comes only after
the passage of time, according to Nelson.
"Students take for granted what's here. People will
come back after they graduate and say What a wonderful
museum this is.' Even though they may not realize it
now, they will achieve an awareness of it in time,"
Nelson said.
Thefts and assaults reported to police
The following is a list of the calls and complaints
received by UNL police in the 24-hour period from
7a.m. Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday. ?
9:34 ajn. - A parking permit was stolen from a
vehicle in parking area 3 1 .
11:48 ajn. - A calculator was reported stolen from
the Nebraska Union.
1:25 pjn. - A medical emergency (an ankle injury)
was reported in Nebraska Hall.
2:46 pjn. - A theft from the State Historical Society
was reported.
4:20 p.m. - A third -degree sexual assault was reported
in Oldfather Hall. No force was used.
4:25 p.m. - A second-degree sexual assault was
reported belatedly in a related case.
4:30 pjn. - A female reported being disturbed by a
male at Oldfather, also related.
5:40 pjn. - The tires were deflated on a vehicle in
parking area 1 .
6:42 pjn. - A disturbance was reported at Abel
Hall.
9:06 p.m. - A complaint of marijuana odor was
reported at Abel Hall. No arrests were made.
9:56 p.m. - A bicycle was reported stolen east of
Ferguson Hall.
12:06 a.m. - A disturbance was reported east of
Burnett Hall. Suspects were gone on arrival.
12:09 a.m. - A complaint was made of an intoxicated
party at 17th and W streets. No arrests were made.
12:21 ajn. - A bicycle was reported stolen from
Harper Hall's courtyard.
3:31 ajn. - A disturbance was reported at Sandoz
Hall. No arrests were made.
3:40 a.m. - A disturbance was reported at Burr
Hall on East Campus. Fireworks were involved.
4:28 ajn. - A burglary was reported at the
Foundation Seed Division. Damage was reported but
nothing was stolen.
4:52 ajn. - A disturbance was reported at Abel
Hall.
Roommate pacts ease pro
blems
An easy way to prevent roommate problems is to agree
on a few things in advance. Shelley Stall, attorney and
director of ASUN Student Legal Services, said the best
way to have that agreement is on papers.
"It's much easier to prove what an agreement is when
it is in writing," Stall said.
Students may obtain free roommate contracts through
Student Legal Services. The contracts are geared to apart
ment residents and carry legal force.
Stall explained that a roommate contract is a type of
subcontract. Roommates would have a contract with each
other in addition to the contract with their landlord.
The basic contract provides for any division of pay
ments desired for damage deposits, utilities, rent, trans
portation and food.
The length of time the lease applies to each roommate
is defined, along with agreed procedures to follow if a
roommate moves before the contract has expired.
One-fourth of the monthly cases at Student Legal
Services are roommate disputes, Stall said. The most com
mon problem in the cases, she said, is when roommates
find out they are not compatible and one moves out,
leaving the others to pay a larger amount of rent.
"Whether you think you know someone or not, you
need to sit down and discuss each other's habits - how
you both feel about parties or study time. Some people
need a quiet time to study," Stall said.
Stall offered some tips for people thinking about be
coming roommates. First, she said, agree on how much
you can spend on rent. Then, determine what monthly
expenses will be. It is important, Stall said, to know how
much utility payments will be before moving in anywhere.
Roommates should agree ahead of time to delegate
responsibilities, Stall said. It is always good, she said, to
have decided in advance who will write out checks at what
time.
Stall has promoted the idea of roommate contracts
while speaking to several campus groups. The reaction
generally has been positive, she said.
"With a contract, you know you have a responsibility,
and it will be taken more seriously when it's a written
contract," Stall said.
Interested students should contact the Student Legal
Services Center, Nebraska Union 237, for an appointment.
Ths Lincoln Star. Lincoln Journal tit
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Staff Photo by Jane Knapp
Norman Geske
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WORSHIP
THIS
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at
St Paul United
Methodist Church
12th and M Streets - Downtown
5 blocks south of campus
WORSHIP at 9:30 and 11 a.m.
"What can we believe about
'Original Sin?"
Dr Rex C. Bevins, preaching
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DMEff STORE
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