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Newton center offers new programs
Bob Frigo is anxious for Savannah College of Art and Design students, faculty and staff to take advantage of the resources available at the Earle W. Newton Center for British-American Studies. Frigo, who directs the museum’s study center, is responsible for organizing academic and nonacademic programs related to the center’s mission and the college. “The overall goal of the Newton center involves promoting interdisciplinary and cross-cultural studies as well as celebrating the artistic and intellectual ties between Britain and America,” Frigo said. “The study center exists in conjunction with the Newton museum component to create a true interdisciplinary center for learning. The result is a multifaceted entity with what I believe has unlimited potential. As a staff member here, I am charged to craft dynamic educational opportunities designed to enhance student learning across the college’s spectrum of academic majors and minors.” The Newton center was founded in 2001 through the inspiration of Earle W. Newton, Ph.D., a retired museum director, publisher and educator, whose donation of art, antiquarian books, maps and reference materials forms the core of the center’s academic and research resources. The center houses notable British resources from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Frigo said the Newton center can have far-reaching influence on the work of students and faculty, no matter what their particular academic concentrations. “The center strives to inspire members of the SCAD community,” he said. “We strongly encourage the creation of artistic projects in the spirit of the center — whether that be in the form of a newly developed academic class or a student project inspired by some aspect of past or present Britain or America.” The Newton center offers annual literary exhibitions called “Book Journeys,” which are designed to help students “gain a broader understanding of British and American cultures,” he said. These exhibitions also enhance the college’s liberal arts curriculum, Frigo explained. The current exhibition on Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels” is a case in point. “’Gulliver’s Travels’ inspired me to create a course on Anglo-Irish literature that I will teach as a special topic in winter 2004 and ideally in future quarters. It will begin with Swift and finish in present-day Ireland,” he said. “The course will use the novel to raise questions surrounding national identity, culture, gender, politics and history and will also incorporate aspects of Irish art, architecture and film. I am very excited to launch the course as I spent this past year abroad experiencing the literature and culture firsthand in Northern Ireland and Ireland. There are still a few open spaces for interested students.” Frigo recently earned a master of arts degree in Irish literature from Queen’s University in Belfast, where he studied as an ambassadorial scholar through Rotary International. He also holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Marquette University and an M.Ed. from University of South Carolina. Previously, Frigo spent three years as a staff member in SCAD’s student involvement office. Frigo is already planning an academic offering for next year, to emphasize the “American” part of the center’s name. “Next year’s exhibition will focus on Mark Twain. I am now in the early stages of constructing a course for 2004-2005 focusing on literature linked with the mighty Mississippi River,” he said. “The creation of such liberal arts courses will continue with new exhibitions, given that my position involves a faculty appointment as well.” While Frigo is taking the lead in developing course offerings based on materials associated with the Newton center, he emphasized that he is eager to work with SCAD professors to develop additional courses. “I invite faculty members to consider proposing new classes in conjunction with the center and welcome the use of our resources to enhance existing classes. Art history is a wonderful example of an area that has been inspired — as they are developing a course involving the works of William Hogarth in our collection for the 2004-2005 academic year,” he said. Despite Frigo’s interest in developing academic courses that flow from the Newton’s holdings, the center’s programs are not limited to academic programs. “The key to the success of the study center is collaboration with departments from across the campus,” he said “A number of departments have been very enthusiastic about working with this area, as evidenced by a number of programs created for winter quarter.” Lectures, film screenings and other events are planned to be cosponsored by the study center and other campus departments such as the Student Activities Council and the School of Building Arts (see sidebar). “I want to convey that we are a brilliant and accessible resource available to the entire campus community,” he said. “I welcome students, faculty and staff to call in for a spot of tea and an outstanding cultural and artistic experience.” For more information about the Earle W. Newton Center for British-American Studies, visit www.scad.edu/newton/. |
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