HR0668 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0668 LRB095 12920 KXB 38477 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the staff, faculty, and students of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston as they celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Tarble Arts Center; and

WHEREAS, The Tarble Arts Center at Eastern Illinois University opened in 1982 with the founding purpose "to take the arts to the people"; and

WHEREAS, The dream of creating an arts center on Eastern Illinois University's campus began with an initial gift of one million dollars from the late Newton E. Tarble (1888 - 1976); the Tarble became the only facility on Eastern's campus built entirely through donated funding; the center absorbed the functions of the Paul T. Sargent Gallery, Eastern's first art gallery, including much of the art that is now the Tarble Arts Center's permanent collection; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Dean James K. Johnson, the center became a division of the College of Arts & Humanities when the colleges were reconfigured in 1993; the Tarble Arts Center has become recognized for its unique service to the university and the region through the presentation of high quality, innovative visual arts exhibitions and related programming; the excellence of programming is manifest in the variety of styles, periods, cultures, and media represented in the exhibitions, visiting artists, and speakers programs, publications, and special events presented; and

WHEREAS, The Tarble Arts Center was accredited by the American Association of Museums in 2000; the success of the Tarble Arts Center and its programs would not have been possible without the continued support of the Tarble family, the Tarble Arts Center membership and other patrons, and program co-sponsors; the Newton E. Tarble family has continued to serve as the major benefactor of the Center; and

WHEREAS, In addition to art exhibits and programs, the Center also has an annual chamber music series, poetry and fiction readings, recitals, an annual theatre series, and many other items of local interest; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we wish to congratulate the staff, faculty, and students of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston as they celebrate this anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the William Perry, President of Eastern Illinois University, as a symbol of our respect.