Myles Center for the Arts Renovation Reflects the Creative Process

When it comes to the transformation of Myles Center for the Arts and Myles Plaza, Trustee Emerita June Myles likes to tell the story of how it all started with monkeys. The recently completed $6.7 million renovation, funded through the generosity of Myles, was initially a smaller project intended to create the perfect location for a bronze sculpture of a pair of dancers Myles had commissioned. Her friend and neighbor, James “Jimmy” Grashow, is an artist well know for his cardboard sculptures of monkeys, among other works. When it was discovered that his sculptures could be bronzed, a couple of them took up residence in Myles’ garden in Connecticut. “I love my monkeys and I love Jimmy’s work. One day I was in his studio and I spotted these dancers – they were 10 feet tall,” Myles explained. “I thought they would be fun out in front of the art center and the plaza was in need of a facelift.” That’s when Myles’ idea began to blossom. From there, she said she can’t explain how the project grew. “It was like when you throw a pebble into a pond and all of a sudden you have all these ever increasingly large concentric circles,” Myles explained. Work commenced with the Mills Group architectural firm to develop a plan and collaborate on a design that would best serve the campus and the greater community, and at the same time manifest a connection to the arts. “The goals for the project grew into creating a showcase for the statue, developing a design for the plaza and building which would be softer and engaging, forming indoor and outdoor gathering spaces which would be connected both physically and visually, and establishing a prominent primary entrance feature for the building from the plaza,” said Mills Group Senior Project Manager Lance Muscara. The result is the addition of the Senate Commons event space equipped with a state-of-the-art audio-visual system that includes five large screens, a media wall and a drop-down projector screen for presentations. The new elevator and balcony bridge make the entire building handicapped accessible at all levels. “It is and will be a great space for events for the campus and the community,” Myles said. “When I saw it, I couldn’t get over how big it is. I’m delighted.” Demolition of the plaza was important due to its deteriorated condition, Muscara explained, adding that the building lacked a primary entrance and the entry doors were not highly visible. “The new site design provides a large amount of planted greenspace to soften the plaza and surrounding area,” Muscara said, adding that the curved slope of the adjacent hillside creates a natural amphitheater. “The entire layout and flow of Myles Plaza comes from music, art and motion,” Myles explained. “Reflection of the creative process was the force behind the design,” Myles said. A work of art as the inspiration for the expansion of a center focused on the arts is quite fitting in the views of students and professors. “Sometimes the role of art gets downplayed,” said Instructor of Digital Media Macy Jackson. “To know that this renovation was inspired by finding a place to display a piece of artwork tells a powerful story.” Jackson teaches courses for the new digital media minor in a remodeled studio equipped with state-of-the-art computers and software, thanks to a gift from friends of the College Doug and Gay Lane. While art classes and studios are located in the lower level of the building, art students have been making use of the entire facility by drawing and documenting art and architecture forms to learn how the two combine for aesthetically pleasing functionality.

Members of the Davis & Elkins College community were the first to get a look at Senate Commons in Myles Center for the Arts. Myles Center for the Arts and Myles Plaza were transformed to create a larger indoor space for a variety of activities and an outdoor area that serves as a destination gathering spot.

Mr. Senator was among the guests to fill Senate Commons while still maintaining social distance during an open house for prospective students. The Black Student Union hosted a poetry slam for the campus community in Senate Commons.

“Students have been sketching different parts of the building inside and outside, the landscaping and the architecture and the digital photography students have been photographing the architecture,” said Assistant Professor of Art Kevin “Woody” Woodcock. “On days when I would bring my students outside to sketch the sculpture and we would see other classes outside, it gave me the feeling of this is what it’s like to be in college.” Students in the Division of Creative Arts put on their spring Art Extravaganza making use of the Senate Commons, Paull Gallery and Harper-McNeeley Auditorium. “This is a fantastic space for the whole College community and the local community to come and enjoy all of our events and activities,” Woodcock said. Renovations to Myles Center for the Arts and Myles Plaza were completed in January, just in time for students’ return for the spring semester. It’s been the center for a variety of activities, ranging from socially distanced classes and the annual Writing Showcase to weekend activities such as karaoke and mini golf. Harper-McNeeley Auditorium has a new look and feel with renovations expanding backstage space, installation of a state-of-the-art light and

rigging system, as well a curtain system with false proscenium curtain, legs for the wings and valances. Additional curtains in the house allow the space to be adaptable for a variety of audience sizes, large and small. The project was possible with the generosity of the Lanes. Instructor of Theatre and Film Lonnie Martin is very excited about the possibilities created by these renovations and thinks students will see a tremendous benefit with a more professional performance space. “Harper-McNeeley is much closer now to the type of large venue our students will find themselves working in once they’re in the professional world,” Martin said. “It’s extremely versatile and opens up a lot of possibilities for the type of productions that can be done. We’re very excited to have this space in which to return theatre to D&E this fall.” Although an official grand opening or dedication ceremony has yet to take place, a few groups including prospective students and their families have attended events in the new space. The first social event was the wedding of Randolph County Development Authority Executive Director Robbie Morris and Whitney Phillips, daughter of D&E Accounts Receivable Clerk Laurie Chestnut. Morris said the couple chose the location for their ceremony because of the beauty of the facility and he expects others will come to know it as a premier site for their events. “Myles Center for the Arts is a tremendous asset for the community,” he said. “Elkins is a wonderful place for conferences and conventions and renovations to the Myles Center open up a whole new market that Elkins hasn’t been able to experience which will Curtains in the house in Harper-McNeeley Auditorium allow the be fantastic for the space to be adapted for a variety of audience sizes. local economy.”

The expansive Senate Commons allows for multiple small group settings such as Student Ambassadors meeting with prospective students and their families during an open house. Students enjoyed some friendly competition as Myles Center for the Arts was transformed into a miniature golf course.