Dr. Patrick
Widhalm of the Governor's School speaks to Bowie
Arts Center volunteers, including Marie Bowie (far
left)
Erskine
College Honors Bowie Arts Center Volunteers
Erskine College recognized more than 50 community
volunteers who act as docents at the Bowie Arts
Center, during a dinner Monday that featured a
presentation by Dr. Patrick Widhalm, dean of arts and
academics at the South Carolina Governor's School for
the Arts and Humanities.
Peggy Adams, Director of the Bowie Arts Center,
said the volunteers assist with everything, including
serving as hosts on the weekends, helping with
repairs, keeping scrapbooks, and making contacts for
exhibits.
"They are our most loyal supporters,"
said Adams. "And they constantly are advising
and helping me. I don't know what we would do without
them."
The volunteers included Mrs. Marie Bowie of Iva,
whose gift to the college provided funds for the
construction of the center. There is a permanent
exhibit of Mrs. Bowie's antiques on display at the
center.
Also in attendance were Mrs. Louise Bell of
Seneca, who has a permanent display of antiques at
the center, and Dr. Doug Fritz of Columbia, who is
caretaker of the Baldwin collection of mechanical
music boxes that are on permanent display.
On display in the Bauer Traveling Exhibits Area,
named for Erskine Professor Emeritus of Art and Music
Dr. Felix Bauer of Due West, who was also in
attendance, were works from the South Carolina
Governor's School for the arts.
Widhalm said the artwork, which surrounded the
guests in the large atrium of the arts center, was
created by the students last summer during the 5-week
program that has been in existence for more than 20
years.
Widhalm talked about the new year-long Governor's
School, started this fall with 56 students, located
on a $26 million campus on the edge of the Reedy
River in Greenville.
"South Carolina has some unbelievably
talented young people," Widhalm said. "Arts
education in South Carolina is leading the nation in
many ways."
The new high school is set up where students focus
on academics in the morning and the arts in the
afternoons. Widhalm said criteria for selecting
students include academics, the arts, and residential
life.
"Our students are celebrated because they are
artists," Widhalm said. "Part of their
experience is the interaction that occurs between
students and that is why we place emphasis on the
residential life."
More than 100 students will be accepted into the
school in the fall and Widhalm said the maximum
number of students they can house is 250.
Widhalm came to his position from Columbus, Ohio,
where he was associated with Capitol University. A
native of Nebraska, he received his Doctor of Musical
Arts at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. He
is also a concert pianist, having studied in France
and Vienna.
Two of his associates at the Governor's School
have Erskine ties. The principal of the school, Dr.
Chris Carbaugh, is a 1971 graduate of Erskine, as is
Vice President of Finance and Operations William
Hall, class of 1976, who also served as a vice
president at Erskine until moving to the Governor's
School.
