Gordon Chase, Visual Arts Department
Member of the Faculty, 1978–2013
In 1978, Gordon Chase brought to Milton his energy and passion for students making art. Milton’s walls have highlighted student self-expressions for more than three decades — witness to Gordon’s idea that art is about “identity” — where students have tested their assumptions and declared their beliefs. With long hair and cowboy boots, supported in his creative quest by Head of School Jerry Pieh, Gordon’s energy for new ideas was colorful and constant.
Gordon chaired the visual arts department for more than 25 years. His goal was building an arts center that included within it all of the arts. He initiated the effort to create the Kellner Arts Center, explored R. Buckminster Fuller as a potential designer, hosted two multischool Bradley Arts Festivals, and dramatically increased student enrollment in art by introducing semester courses, now common in many departments. These courses built on the important foundation of the arts program — Milton’s long-standing and pioneering arts requirement that centers art in the academic core. Milton students now routinely pursue art in successive years. Their high achievement distinguishes them in the college process. Gordon’s commitment to creative thinking and to self-expression, shared by the department and the School, elevated Milton’s art program to the top of the independent-school world.
Two “big ideas” informed Gordon’s work on professional events: the idea of art with a social conscience, and the idea of design as the integration of art and science. As head of the Art Association of New England Preparatory Schools, Gordon organized workshops and worked with Facing History and Ourselves on social-justice art projects. He co-created a New England event called “Art with a Social Conscience” for students to focus on identity, social issues and diversity. Two years ago, Milton hosted “Classrooms with a Conscience” to highlight the idea that we teach “students first and subjects second.”
Gordon sought to integrate art and science with proposals for Milton to build a design center, to start an inventor’s camp, to honor Bucky Fuller with an integrated approach to solving the world’s problems with innovative ideas. He organized the New England Design Olympics in the ’90s, which showcased applied design long before today’s innovation labs. Gordon still believes this integration is possible at Milton.
Gordon was a soccer coach, a Nesto Gallery assistant director, a Cultural Diversity Committee member. He and Marky Kauffmann are parents to Milton graduates Greg ’06 and Corina ’08, and they are grateful for that education from devoted and passionate colleagues. As he leaves, Gordon’s hope is that Milton will continue to embrace the ideals of creativity and social justice.
by Paul Menneg
Visual Arts Department