Linda Wiliams McCune Retires after 25 Years at the Department of Visual Arts, Greenville Technical College in Greer, SC

The Department of Visual Arts at Greenville Technical College announces the retirement of Linda Williams McCune. For more than 25 years, McCune has worked tirelessly as part of DVA’s team to increase the scope of the department while always maintaining an emphasis on excellence. Hundreds of Tech Visual Arts’ students have blossomed under her enthusiastic, persistent, and affectionate care. She has led as a mentor and teacher but also by example. During her career at Greenville Tech, McCune reared two daughters with her husband, Bill, and also maintained a successful studio practice.

McCune began her GTC career as a part-time instructor, teaching Greenville Tech’s one and only section of Art History Appreciation in 1989. Eventually, her teaching expanded as Tech began to offer courses in drawing, painting, and design. With no dedicated teaching space for studio art, she rolled a cart of supplies across Main (now Barton) Campus from class to class, from building to building.

In 1995, McCune was hired full-time as the Department of Visual Arts moved to a dedicated space on the newly constructed Greer (now Benson) Campus. She visualized a DVA with a strong fine arts transfer track and employment-ready tracks in graphic design and photography . She set about helping to make that happen. She assisted in recruiting and hiring top-notch instructors. She insured GTC courses met employer and transfer standards. DVA course offerings have expanded to a current total of 30-plus courses with enrollment up from 30 students 25 years ago to at least 300 students today.

McCune has been a positive force in the lives of her students. She taught the pursuit of excellence and demanded achievement, assuring each student that she would provide all needed support, assistance, and encouragement. She has former students succeeding in creative communities from New York to Los Angeles. Her former students, now teachers, designers, and artists, provide the professional foundation of many of the fine arts and graphics communities here in South Carolina.

At GTC, McCune taught full-time including most summers, advised twice as many students as required, scheduled all DVA classes, researched and created course curriculums, and lead several academic committees. It seems she might want to retire to a recliner, but GTC was only one of her several careers.

McCune may be retiring from Greenville Tech but not from her studio. Upon completing her graduate art degree, she set these exhibition goals for herself: at least one solo exhibition and at least six group exhibitions per year. She has always met or exceeded that goal even as she worked full time, plus some, at Tech. Her career as a professional artist continues with no slowdown. For McCune, there is always art to be made, packed, shipped, and exhibited. She is also maintaining her newest career as a grandmother with four lively, creative grandsons. Though she and Bill must currently grandparent distantly, Linda is undeterred. She and the grandsons have Facetime craft projects going computer to computer across the US.

Though she leaves a void at GTC that not even two people could fill, there seems to be no recliner in her future.

“Thank you, Linda. All of us in the Department of Visual Arts and all your former students have enjoyed and profited from our time with you as a teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend. You have gifted us a legacy of excellence.”

In 2022 the Department of Visual Arts and our Benson Campus Galleries plan to host a retrospective of McCune’s work as a celebration of her achievements at Greenville Tech and her continued success as an artist.

For now visit (www.lindawilliamsmccune.com).

New Greer Center for the Arts in Greer, SC, Calls for Arts Instructors, Student Artists, and Artists in Residence – Deadline July 19, 2019

The new Greer Center for the Arts is opening in September 2019! In preparation for the opening, the City of Greer, SC, is currently in search of Arts Instructors, Student Artists, and Artists in Residence.

ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE:
The City of Greer is currently accepting applications from Upstate artists to lease six studio spaces in its new arts center. Studio spaces range from 95 to 160 square-feet, are climate controlled and offer 24-hour key card access. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rotating on-site exhibit area, access to a breakroom-kitchen and a co-op of artists to work with. Monthly rent ranges from $75 to $145, depending on studio size. Leases are on a 6-month basis. Applications due July 19, 2019. Move in date is August 1, 2019.
Greer-Application for Artist in Residence -2019

STUDENT ARTISTS:
The City of Greer is currently accepting applications from Upstate student artists for an artist in residency opportunity. Up to four student artists will share a 184 square foot, climate controlled studio space with 24-hour key-card access, free of rent. Instead of paying monthly rent, student artists will be expected to keep the two classrooms clean, load/unload/fire the kiln, take out the trash, and perform other simple tasks to maintain the arts center. Students will also be expected to work in their studio for at least six hours per week. Just like the artists in residence, student artists may enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rotating on-site exhibit area, access to a breakroom-kitchen and a co-op of artists to work with. Student artist studio agreements are on a month-to-month basis. Applications due July 19, 2019. Move in date is August 1, 2019.
Greer-Application for Student Artist in Residence – 2019

CALL FOR ARTS INSTRUCTORS:
The City of Greer is currently accepting Arts Instructor applications/class proposals for the new Greer Center for the Arts. Examples of the types of classes that we would like to provide to the Greer community: Ceramics, yoga, dance, piano, voice, drawing, poetry, acting, etc. Applications are due July 19, 2019. Classes will begin September 3, 2019.
Greer-Arts Instructor Application C4A

For more information, visit (GreerCulturalArts.com) or (Facebook.com/GreerCulturalArts). If you have any questions, please e-mail to (artscouncil@cityofgreer.org).