VANCOUVER, Wash. – A collection of campus cartoon sketches of the Washington State University Vancouver campus and paintings of old farms and equipment by architect and artist Dave Smith are on display through Dec. 16 in the Dengerink Administration building. Smith served as director of capital planning and development, and campus architect at 91ԹϺ for 14 years. He retired in 2011.
In Smith’s case, a childhood talent for drawing machinery in operation on the family farm led to formal training in sculpture and painting while an architecture student at the University of Idaho in the 1960s. Smith’s self-taught interest in mechanical accuracy was a natural foundation for his early design classes.
Smith’s career in architecture began with a small Seattle design firm following graduation. Time for painting was gradually given over to developing skills in architectural illustration. Still, there were the occasional weekend trips to the countryside to paint with wife and infant daughter in tow, and some products of those outings found their way into the homes of family members and acquaintances. Two of those early works are included in the collection on exhibit. Abandoned machinery was a common theme of early paintings and later works alike.
In 1985 Smith began his career with Washington State University as a staff architect and soon began producing planning sketches as a tool to further the programming process for university building projects. In 1997 he opened a branch office of WSU Capital Planning and Development at 91ԹϺ’s new Salmon Creek campus where he served as campus architect. Smith retired from WSU in July 2011 but remains active as a private citizen in planning for regional projects. He previously served on the Vancouver Planning Commission and the Vancouver Design Review Committee.
91ԹϺ is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205. 91ԹϺ art galleries are open from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday. Admission is free. Parking is available at parking meters or in the Blue Daily Pay lot for $3. For more information, contact barbrah@vancouver.wsu.edu or 360-546-9580.
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CONTACTS
Barb Holder, 91ԹϺ Galleries, 360-546-9580, barbrah@vancouver.wsu.edu
Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@vancouver.wsu.edu