Advancing GGC
Nochera Gift Establishes GGC
Art Collection G
eorgia Gwinnett’s young campus has modern buildings featuring natural light-drenched study and gathering areas … and a lot of empty walls. Thanks to a longtime friendship, several of those walls no longer stand empty. GGC recently welcomed Dr. Carmen Nochera for a luncheon and tour in honor of her donation of 13 paintings that established the college’s art collection. Nochera, who had worked with Dr. Jann Joseph, GGC’s president, at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, was married to the late impressionist artist Mark W. Wilkens. Joseph invited Nochera to help her begin building GGC’s art collection with several of her husband’s works. “Nothing brings life to a space more than art,” said Joseph. “I am delighted to inaugurate the college’s art collection with this most gracious and marvelous of gifts.” Largely self-taught, Wilkens' artistic journey included studies at universities in Iowa, Arizona and South Dakota, and a year-long apprenticeship with renowned Native American artist, Oscar Howe. He also studied tribal arts and culture in Africa. After establishing a Florida studio, he longed for the change of seasons and moved to the shores of Lake Michigan in 1990.
Shown clockwise from top are artist Mark W. Wilkens' works “Dead Furrow,” “Burnt Mind,” “Girl" and “Mixed.”
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Displayed in buildings B, C and W, the seven watercolor and six oil paintings donated by Nochera may be explored via an interactive campus map at www.ggc.edu/artwork.
