Mount Everest Mount Everest - iamWKU

Hall of Distinguished Alumni2010HALL OFDistinguishedAlumniJoe DowningAnative of Tompkinsvillewho grew up in HorseCave, Downing stretcheda three-month vacation inFrance in 1950 into a career as anartist who gained international fame.Downing grew up on the family’stobacco farm in Horse Cave butfell in love with the French countrysideand its people during his serviceas an artillery observer with the U.S.Army in World War II.After he returned to the UnitedStates, he enrolled at WKU for the1945-46 school year and began torecognize his enthusiasm for artwith encouragement from Ivan Wilson.But following his parents’wishes, he began preparing for a careerin optometry and enrolled inthe Northern Illinois College of Optometryin Chicago. While there,however, he also took classes at theChicago Art Institute.He graduated from optometryschool in 1950, but before beginningthat career Downing went toParis forwhat was tobe a threemonthvacation.Helived inFrance untilhis death in2007.In 1952, Downing had his firstone-man show. Over the next halfcentury,he became known worldwideas a painter and sculptor for hisabstraction and experimentationwith different media formats –leather, linen, canvas and old wood.He was also a writer and publishedtwo books of poetry.Downing has the distinction ofbeing one of only three Americansto exhibit work at the Louvre Museumin Paris. His art has been exhibitedin France, Sweden, Italy,Canada, Mexico, Germany andother countries.Downing has permanent collectionsof his works in such museumsas the Smithsonian Institute and theMuseum of Modern Art in NewYork City, as well as WKU’s KentuckyMuseum and Library, theSpeed Museum in Louisville and theOwensboro Museum of Fine Art andaround the world in the Paris Museumof Modern Art and in Belgium,Luxembourg, Israel, Australia andCanada.The Downing Museum at theBaker Arboretum in Bowling Greenis the home of a large collection ofhis works.Downing died Dec. 29, 2007, inthe village of Menerbes in France.He was 82.36 | WKU SPIRIT | Fall 2010