ITEM No. 1 – APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The meeting minutes from March 3, 2025, were unanimously approved.

 

ITEM No. 2 – RECOMMENDATION – Renne Library Art Exhibit Spaces

Robert Stockdale explained that the MSU Library staff had proposed four art exhibit spaces in Renne Library which would feature items from the Library’s Special Collections and Archives as well as student artwork. Robert presented the four locations: the second floor corridor, the second floor landing of the library’s central stairwell, the third floor landing, and the fourth floor landing, which would be the site for the relocation of a student piece that is currently installed in Norm Asbjornson Hall.

Grant Petersen asked whether any other locations were considered for the student artwork that is planned to be installed on the fourth floor. Christina Trunnell, Assistant Dean of the Library, answered that another space on the second floor was seen as an alternative spot, but the student artist of the piece suggested the fourth floor landing.

Caleb Fey moved to approve the art exhibit spaces in Renne Library.
Jennisse Waters seconded the motion
The Vote: 8 Ayes, 0 Nays

 

ITEM No. 3 – RECOMMENDATION – PAAC Community at Large Representative Candidate Selection

Robert Stockdale introduced the two candidates for the PAAC Community at Large seat, Tony Waller and Jim Madden, noting that a third candidate had declined the position due to existing commitments.

Caleb Fey spoke on Tony Waller’s experience and knowledge as well as his previous participation and involvement with MSU. Joshua Deweese stated that he thought both candidates were excellent choices, and that he considered Tony Waller’s experience with institutional knowledge would be significantly beneficial to the Committee. Dean Adams mentioned that he knows both candidates well and believed both would be great additions to PAAC.

Jennisse Waters moved to approve the Tony Waller as the Community at Large representative.
Caleb Fey seconded the motion.
The Vote: 8 Ayes, 0 Nays

 

ITEM No. 4 – INFORMATIONAL – Campus Art Collection and Policy Assessment

Robert Stockdale walked the Committee through a presentation about MSU’s public art collection, including a breakdown of the artists whose works the university owns. Robert also provided a review of previous RFPs for campus public art. Lastly, Robert gave an overview of MSU’s vision and value statements to help provide guidance for the Committee to discuss developing a mission statement for the university’s public art collection.

Grant Petersen asked the Committee for their perspective on developing a mission statement based on MSU’s stated values when a new president was just announced that morning. Kris Johnson replied that it may take the new president several years to develop a strategic direction. Kris offered that it would be helpful to develop more robust and specific language to bolster the Committee’s mission and goal, with the knowledge that it may need to be updated again in the coming years to match a changed university-wide mission.

Dean Adams stated that PAAC’s values, mission, and vision should align with those of MSU, but should be specific to the work of the Committee as stewards of the campus’s art and artifacts collection. Dean then proposed that the Committee ought to update the policy document as a group. Robert Stockdale said that he would upload the current policy and share an editable link with the committee members.

Dean Adams asked Caleb Fey for his input regarding the campus’s public art collection and MSU teaching collection. Caleb stated that he would like to see the College of Arts and Architecture’s teaching collection included as part of the overall PAAC vision and mission statement, noting that it would be conducive to view all MSU-owned artworks as a single collection, especially for financial and tracking purposes. Caleb then offered the idea that the whole of MSU’s collection could be featured in a database through the library so that the works would be more accessible. Grant Petersen added that there will need to be some consideration as to how such a collection would be integrated with that of the Museum of the Rockies, but that the better PAAC understands the existing the collection, the better the Committee can maintain it and grow it over time. Dean mentioned that there would need to be consideration as to whether the artworks at other MSU campuses would be featured in a catalog of the university’s collection. Caleb agreed that the workload of inventorying the art from all the campuses may be significant, but that it would ultimately be helpful in publicizing the collection of the wider MSU system.

The meeting was brought to a close at 1:49 PM by Dean Adams.