Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University officials have announced plans to remodel the home of Ouachita’s Art and Design program. The department, which will feature an updated exterior and renovated interior space, will be named the Rosemary Adams Department of Art and Design in honor of Ouachita alumna Rosemary (Gossett) Adams’ generous gift to fund the project.

Primary renovation priorities, scheduled to begin this spring, include constructing a new front façade and entrance to Moses-Provine Hall which houses the Art and Design program; creating gallery spaces to display artists’ works; renovating classroom, studio and office space; and adding an elevator and additional restrooms to the facility. Mrs. Adams, who provided a major gift to fund the project, is a 1963 Ouachita graduate with a major in art.

“Rosemary Adams’ gift provides an incredible opportunity for the Department of Art and Design,” said Dr. Scott Holsclaw, dean of the School of Fine Arts. “This gift will allow the Department of Art and Design to update the facility that houses the department by providing new gallery space and state-of-the-art studios for drawing, painting, ceramics and graphic design.

“The new Rosemary Adams Department of Art and Design will generate a new energy in the department and across campus,” Holsclaw added. “This gift will help ensure that we are able to meet our mission for years to come as we strive to make a difference through the arts.”

Mrs. Adams said she “had been speaking to Terry Peeples (vice president for development) about the fact that I wanted to leave some money to Ouachita upon my death. After meeting Dr. Holsclaw and learning about the need for a new art center for Ouachita, I became interested in making a gift now so that I could see it and enjoy the work being done.

While Mrs. Adams said she “loved my time at Ouachita and have always been grateful for the first-rate education it provided me,” she acknowledged that when she was a student 50 years ago, “I always thought that we were very limited in our art education and wished for a larger and more comprehensive program.

“I think this new Department of Art and Design will provide that,” she said. “I am thrilled to be able to help in this tangible way.”

In addition to her Bachelor of Arts degree, Mrs. Adams holds a Master of Arts degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and an associate’s degree in interior design from Louisville Tech. Noting that she has had four careers, “high school art teacher, mommy, business owner and CFO and a commercial interior designer,” Mrs. Adams said she is “currently retired and enjoy the time to do many arts projects.” She has published one illustrated book of poetry and currently is working on a children’s book.

“I am most grateful for Rosemary Adams’ generous gift,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “This gift will do so much to improve our Art and Design center and encourage our professors and students in their pursuits.

“The exemplary devotion of Rosemary toward this university she loves is a blessing to us all,” he said. “I look forward to observing the renovation and grand improvements.”

For more information about the Rosemary Adams Department of Art and Design, contact Dr. Scott Holsclaw at [email protected] or 870-245-5561.

By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications