Stubnitz Gallery (Located in Downs Hall)
The Stubnitz Gallery was funded by the Stubnitz Foundation, founded by Dorothy Stubnitz (an acclaimed artist) and her husband Maurice. Department Chair Norm Knutson searched campus for a suitable space to house the new gallery, finally settling on an unused space in the only remaining building from the original 1800's campus - Downs Hall. It seemed perfect, especially since the Theatre Department used the more intimate theatre upstairs for most of its productions. Prior to the Stubnitz Gallery in Downs Hall, the Art and Design Department's gallery was located in a classroom in Mahan. The move to the spacious, high ceilinged, graciously appointed Stubnitz Gallery was responsible for really launching our Gallery programming forward. Its multi-room layout also accommodated Adrian College's first ever Senior Exhibition in 1990. Since that time, Stubnitz has showcased from one to four successive senior exhibitions per year.
The gallery hosts the yearly juried Student Exhibition each fall and four professional exhibitions per year. In all, nearly one hundred exhibitions have been presented in Stubnitz Gallery. These exhibitions are a vital part of the department’s educational mission, which brings artists to campus to present gallery talks, demonstrations, slide talks, and critiques through the Art Experience program.
The lobby underwent additional restoration in 2005. Led by then Academic Dean James Borland and art alumna Jennifer Kay ‘04, the senior class of 2004 adopted the project as a senior gift. The lobby was repainted, period light fixtures, carpeting, and new exterior doors were installed. The biggest change was the restoration of the long hidden hardwood floors in the gallery and the addition of hardwood floors throughout the lobby - thanks to the efforts of the Adrian College Alumni Board!