Rudy Henry Turk (1927—2007), was an American visual artist, art historian, curator, and museum director.[1][2] He served as the director emeritus and former curator of the Arizona State University Art Museum in Tempe, Arizona.[1][3] Turk was elected as a honorary fellow by the American Craft Council (ACC) in 1988.[4]
Rudy Henry Turk | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 24, 1927 Sheboygan, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | August 14, 2007 (aged 80) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Education | University of Wisconsin–Sheboygan, University of Tennessee, Indiana University |
| Occupation(s) | Visual artist, art historian, curator, museum director |
| Known for | Arts administration, painting |
| Spouse | Wanda Lee Borders |
| Children | 4 |
Biography
editRudy Henry Turk was born on June 24, 1927, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, U.S..[5] He attended the University of Wisconsin–Sheboygan (now University of Wisconsin–Green Bay; B.S. 1949, education);[6] the University of Tennessee (M.A. 1951, history);[6] and did postgraduate work at Indiana University in 1956.
Turk held a position from 1960 to 1965 as director of the Richmond Arts Center in Richmond, California,[7] before serving as director of the fine arts gallery in San Diego (now the San Diego Museum of Art).[3] He was the founding director and curator of the Arizona State University Art Museum (formerly the Matthews Center) in Tempe, Arizona, starting in 1967 and he retired in 1992.[8]
Turk's own artwork was in the mediums of painting, pottery, printmaking, and sculpture.[1] He took his first art class in the 1950s, and he found inspiration in early Christian art and catacomb paintings.[3]
He died on August 14, 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona.[9] He was survived by his wife Wanda Lee Turk (née Borders) and their four children.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c Potts, Leanne. "Life's Work". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ "Every Rudy Turk picture tells a Turk story". Arizona Republic. 2001-10-05. Retrieved 2023-12-11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Concors, Erin (2005-03-13). "Rudy Turk found a life in painting and teaching by chance". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ "College of Fellows". American Craft Council. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ "Turk, Rudy H." LC Name Authority File (LCNAF).
- ^ a b University of Tennessee Commencement 1950–1951. University of Tennessee. 1951. p. 7.
- ^ "Rudy Turk". Berkeley Gazette. 1963-06-20. Retrieved 2023-12-11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Petrie, Bob (April 29, 1992). "Rudy Turk leaves legacy of art at ASU". Arizona Republic. p. 171. Retrieved 2023-12-11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Obituary: Rudy H. Turk". Arizona Republic. 2007-08-19. Retrieved 2023-12-11 – via Newspapers.com.