feature
Story by
David J. Hayden
Photos by
Duffy Coffman
Norman Bursheim, an intense zest for art
A man walks into a class of
students and begins lecturing. It’s an
event that happens countless times on
campus everyday, but in "one the
students see it differently. “He is such a
dynamic person that he gets everyone
involved,” said one student.
The teacher is Norman Bursheim,
art department chairperson. “His per
sonality is forceful and that comes
across to his class,” comments another
students “I feel that an instructor doesn’t
just go to school and lecture/’ he com
mented. “I watch myself because I feel
it’s my responsibility to be active and to
be involved.
“I like teaching,” Bursheim con
tinued. “As long as I know that I can do
the art, I don’t feel a compelling need to
go out and do it. I enjoy being in the art
environment. But my real joy is having
the students and working with them.
“I have the old mid-west work ethic
in me/’ he said. “If you were are a good
provider you’ll make it to heaven or
something like that.”
“At the time, I was graduating from
Moorehead, several of the art students
began looking for a college to go to,”
BurSheim said. “We learned about
Robert Nelson, who had attended the
Chicago Art Institute, and some of the
things he was doing at the University of
North Dakota. Five of us eventually
ended up going there.
Bursheim received his first degree,
a B.S. in art instruction, from
Moorehead State College. He then at
tended the University of North Dakota
where he graduated with a M.A. in fine
arts. Eventually, he came to Oregon
and attended Lewis and Clark and
Portland State University, and Universi
ty of Oregon where he later graduated
with a M.F.A.
“1 was living in Minnesota and
received a job offer from Rogue River
Community College,” he said. “But,
after I had resigned my job in Minnesota
and accepted the position at Rogue, I
was told that there were no openings.
The art instructor had said he was going
to resign, but later decided not to.
“I knew that I wanted to work in
Oregon,” he continued, “so I contacted
the Oregon Educational Association.”
Shortly thereafter, he was offered a
teaching position at Oregon City High
School. Then late in 1967 when
Clackamas Community College was be
ing formed, he was offered a job here.
In addition tox teaching, and being
the Art Department chairperson, Bur-
sheim has béen instrumental in pro
moting art on campus and advising the
Art Advisory Committee.
“Gordon Gilkey, curator of the
Portland Art Museum, recently pur
chased one print by Robert Nelson.
Gilkey was delighted to. get just that one
print. He was amazed to learn that we
have seven Nelson prints,” Bursheim
said.
“But, more importantly,” he add
ed, “the College only had to pay for
four prints. The others were donations
or bought with grants. Bursheim noted
that two of Nelson prints are in an art
text. “Just being in the text will have an
amazing effect on the value of the
prints.
“There’s a great deal of academic
snobbery among colleges,” he com
mented. “We’re one of the few colleges
to have western art on campus. As long
as we have quality pieces there’s no
reason not to have western art especial
ly in a community like ours.
“I’ve had several staff and faculty
members come up and say how much
they erijoy the Meek statue,” Bursheim
continued. “Mark Essig, a faculty
member, said it was one of the greatest
pieces we have. I also had this little old
lady come up and hug me.
“One thing that seems to bother
some people is that we spend money on
art at all,” he commented. He noticed
the Kelly mural, located in Barlow Hall,
The 15-member Art Advisory
all of the Nelson prints, the Poets Chair,
Committee is the group responsible for
the sculpture by the cafeteria, and many
art on campus, Bursheim explained.
of the omer pieces were purchased for
“They’re the group that pulls the funds
$4,000.
together to buy art pieces. They also
report to the College Board of Educa
To commission the “Poet’s Chair”
tion.
the artist would charge $20,000 dollars.
The large Nelson prints would sell for
“The Art Cpmmittee has tried to
$1,000 and the small prints would sell
bring a variety of art to the campus,” he for $800, conservatively. “I’d bet we’ve
commented. “And, as long as we deal made some of the best art investments
only with quality pieces, I see no reason
of any college,” he said.
not to have a variety.
Commenting about retirement,
“Although most people don’t Bursheim said “I’ve never met an older
realize it, the College is very fortunate to. artist who’s senile. Robert .Nelson once
have the art pieces we have,” Bursheim said ‘the life I’ve lived I would trade for
no other.’ I agree totally.”
continued.
Wednesday, February 24, 1982
page 5