Dorothy Gillespie had a long history with Radford University. She served as a Distinguished Professor of Art (1997-99), and as Visiting Artist 1981-83 where she initiated the University’s permanent art collection through a gift of her own work. Radford Unuversity has 80 pieces of her art, which turns out to be the largest collection anywhere. She led a very interesting life which included being an educator, artist, lecturer, presenter, curator, etc. After her death, Sept 30, 2012, her son Gary donated several boxes of papers to the Radford University Archives and Special Collections department, and these items have been processed and are available for public viewing as The Dorothy Gillespie Collection.
Dorothy Gillespie was born in Roanoke, Virginia in 1920, and was an artist whose works include paintings, sculpture, jewelry making, and film, although she was best known for her enamal/aluminum sculptures. After graduating from Jefferson High School in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1937, she attended and studied art at the Maryland Institute College of Art (graduated in 1941). From there, she moved to New York and worked from a studio in Greenwich Village, married Bernard Israel, and had her first solo art exhibits. In the following years, she relocated several times, including to Peru, Long Island, and Florida before returning, in 1957 to New York where her career and reputation as an artist blossomed. In addition to her many shows and exhibits, she became Artist in Residence at the Women’s Interart Center in New York, and acted as Co-coordinator there from 1973-76.
In addition to being an accomplished artist, she was also a frequent lecturer, guest artist, artist in residence, exhibitor, curator, and educator. Among her many honors, she has received The Alice Baber Art Fund, Inc. Grant Award; a Doctor of Pedagogy, Niagara University, Niagara Falls, NY 1990; a Doctor of Fine Arts (Honoris Causa) Caldwell College, Caldwell, NY 1976; an Allied Professions Award,Virginia Society; The American Institute of Architects, Richmond, VA 1986; Distinguished Alumni Award, Maryland Institute, College of Art, Baltimore, MD 1983; Outstanding Services Award, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, AR 1983; and, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women’s Caucus for Art in 2001. The Gala 8 ” Distinguished Woman” Award at Birmingham Southern College in 1987 honoring women who have made lasting contributions to our society in the fields of endeavor ranging from the arts, medicine, philanthropy, journalism, government, sports, entertainment and business”. In addition, she served as a Distinguished Professor of Art, Radford University, Radford, VA 1997-99; on the Board of Trustees, Maryland Institute, College of Art, Baltimore, MD 1996-99; on the Board of Trustees, Maitland Art Center, Maitland, FL 1996-99; and on the Art in Public Places Committee, Broward Cultural Affairs Council, June 1993-June 1994; and as Visiting Artist, Radford University, Radford, VA 1981-83 where she initiated the University’s permanent art collection through a gift of her own work and where her work is now archived. Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow from 1985-1993. During that period she made week-long visits to small private colleges throughout the country and gave public lectures, coached and taught young artists.
Included in the Dorothy Gillespie Collection, are newspaper and magazine articles about her life and works, exhibit flyers and advertising, Women’s Interart Center schedules and event brochures, and other items.
We actually have a few small associated collections of interest, one is the Women’s Interart Center digital collection, which is composed of audio recordings of lectures and panel discussions mostly from 1975 and including talks and interviews by June Blum, Alice Barber, Alice Neel, Lila Katzen, Betty Parsons, Dorothy Gillespie, and others. These recordings give an insiders view of the women’s art movement and are a (sometimes hard to hear but) fascinating listen.
Other collections of interest can be found amongst the Public Relations Photo Collection (Binder 208)– in this binder are photographs of Gillespie’s works et while at RU; the RU Art Museum Collection contains a few publications featuring the works of Dorothy Gillespie.
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