'College Night' bash held at de Saisset museum

By Chris O'Connell

Santa Clara's de Saisset Museum was host to what many college students may find uncharacteristic of a museum last Thursday: a party.

"College Night," sponsored by Mondo Burrito and the Center for Multicultural Learning (CML), featured free food, a beer and wine cash bar, and music and dance performances by You Suck, DJ Que, and Ballet Folklorico.

The Curator of Exhibits and Collections Karen Kienzle organized the event for the second year in a row, in hopes of establishing a tradition that will bring more students into the university's museum.

Kienzle said the de Saisset, one of only two museums in the South Bay accredited by the American Association of Museums, is often forgotten by the campus community.

"I think that many students just aren't aware that there is a museum on campus," Kienzle said. "I can't tell you how many times I've been at an art opening or a social event in which I've met a Santa Clara alum and they admit they never went to the de Saisset when they were a student."

Liz Rosenbaum, a sophomore docent at the de Saisset, said that awareness of art is relevant and very important for the Santa Clara campus. She said that events like College Night bring students who otherwise wouldn't go to the museum.

"Once people come in the de Saisset, they are excited. It's a great museum in and of itself," Rosenbaum said.

Kienzle and museum staff surveyed several groups of visitors as they left the event, saying the majority of which wanted to see more events like College Night at the museum.

Last Thursday night, 385 people visited the de Saisset Museum, nearly 80% of which were members of the university community.

Although last year's College Night brought close to 500 visitors, Kienzle was excited about Thursday's event and hopes to plan more attractions in the future for the de Saisset.

"We're definitely going to continue the College Night and look for more ways to bring students to the museum," Kienzle said.

Although many students do not frequent the museum, many say it is an important resource.

"I think that it is important for the university to have an art museum," senior Janel Prejean said. Although Prejean has only visited the de Saisset twice, she said she would like to see more student exhibited art in the museum.

Freshman John Barnidge, who has visited the de Saisset four times, said it is essential for the campus because it provides students with a place to go during the hectic times throughout the quarter to view works of art.

"The de Saisset is an important resource," Holly Brown, a senior English major, said. "Realistically, students don't always go, or make time to visit, unless there is an exhibit that affects them personally."

Brendan Lax, a student art guard at the de Saisset, gets a close view of those that attend the museum.

"A majority of the museum's visitors are not Santa Clara students," Lax said. "This museum is a valuable resource. But, not enough of the students come in to see the exhibits."

The de Saisset, established in 1955, boasts a strong permanent collection of thousands of objects, including classic prints by Albrecht Durer, William Hogarth, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso. It also houses some of the pieces of Ernest de Saisset, the Santa Clara student after whom the museum was named.

The de Saisset also serves as the caretaker of the university's California History Collection and has a docent program that several students have participated in.

Presently, the de Saisset features exhibits entitled Americanos: Latino Life in the United States, Young Americanos, and Conversations/Conversaciones: Women Collaborate.

"The de Saisset has a large and diverse collection of art varying in culture and ethnicity," Kienzle said. "It's not only a great compliment to the art department but the entire academic community."

û Contact Chris O'Connell at (408) 554-4546 or coconnell@scu.edu.