Murray Reich (1932–2012)

The Bard Community and many alumni/ae mourn the passing of Professor Emeritus of Studio Arts Murray Reich (1933-2012), who died on April 23, 2012. Leon Botstein recently remembered Reich at the Alumni/ae Memorial Service held on campus over Commencement and Alumni/ae Reunion Weekend. He told a story of first meeting Reich when he attended one of Reich's classes. Reich had suggested he do so to see first hand what was being taught in the Bard Art Department at the time. Botstein recalled the class with great respect for the insightful, innovative, and questioning way Reich approached the teaching of art. The class at the time was assigned to draw a still-life where each edge of the subject must touch the edge of the paper, in an attempt to help the class understand some of the issues involved in Modernism. Reich taught at Bard for 30 years, from 1967 to his retirement in 1997. In his announcement to the Bard Community, Botstein said, "He was a valued colleague who made a lasting contribution to the teaching of art and to the importance of the arts in the curricular life of the College."

Post Date: 04-23-2012