Gestures W'06_07 FINAL 2.indd - Temple University

donor spotlight
A Tyler Pioneer
JANE BONELLI, MEd ’65 received her BFA from
the University of the Arts where she was a parttime
lecturer for five years. She began teaching
at Tyler in the late 1950s while at the same time
pursuing her masters in art education. In 1960,
Bonelli was hired as the
first female tenure-track
professor in Tyler’s history.
Though Bonelli retired from teaching
in 1992, she has remained active with
Tyler. She served on the Tyler School
of Art Alumni Association Board for
many years. She was a recipient of
the 1994 Temple University Alumni
Association Certificate of Honor
Award for the distinguished work she
accomplished in her field. In 1997, an
endowed fund was established in her
honor to provide for an award to an outstanding student in
art education studies or student teaching performance. Bonelli
has also been recognized as a member of Temple’s Acres of
Diamonds Circle.
Rochelle Toner, dean emeritus of Tyler, worked closely with
Jane during her tenure. “For many years, Jane Bonelli was art
education at Tyler School of Art. As the founding director of
Tyler’s art education program, Jane had an enormous impact
on the teaching of art in the Philadelphia region. A significant
ABOVE: JANE BONELLI MED ’65, “THE KITE,”
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, 40 X 40 INCHES, 1980.
A R T C R A F T S H O W AWA R D
This past fall marked the 30th Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, which
debuted in November 1977 to great acclaim and has gone on to become one of
the most highly anticipated art events of the season.
number of the students she taught went on to head up the
most important K-12 art education programs in the region.
All of us who love Tyler appreciate Jane Bonelli’s contribution
to this very real chain of arts education.”
Jane’s late husband, Harry Bonelli, was
the Director of Art Education for the
School District of Philadelphia. In 1974,
when Bonelli became chair of the art
education department, she used her
public school experience to create a
requirement that her students take a
practicum in both the private and public
realms. This duality enabled the students
to obtain a well-rounded education
of many classroom scenarios and to
be better prepared for teaching upon
graduation. Bonelli explains, “The inner
city was where the jobs were available
and where good students were needed and getting hired.
Despite this reality, the students were only being trained in
private, suburban classrooms.”
The energy and enthusiasm that springs from young art
students are the main reasons Bonelli stays dedicated to
Tyler. Her own experience as both an art educator and a
painter simultaneously has allowed Bonelli the opportunity to
empathize with students struggling to pursue their art while
at the same time making ends meet. As a donor, Bonelli hopes
to make the financial struggle less strenuous for students.
Two of Tyler’s own were honored. The country’s leading figures in
the field of contemporary crafts, metal sculptor Albert Paley, and
Helen Williams Drutt English, formerly executive director of the
Philadelphia Council of Professional Craftsmen, were recognized
with the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show Award for Distinguished
Achievement in American Craft.
RIGHT: ALBERT PALEY, BFA ’66, MFA ’69,
“CLEAR CUT,” FABRICATED CARBON STEEL
AND GLASS, 48 X 27 X 18 INCHES, 2001.