Richard L. Gunn
From College of Fine Arts and Communications
Contents |
Early Life & Education
Richard Gunn was born and raised in Salt Lake City. He attended the University of Utah for two years before transferring to BYU, where he received a BS in Art is 1947, and a MS in Art in 1950. He went on to complete an EdD at Stanford University in 1955. Gunn interrupted his studies to serve an LDS mission in Hawaii and serve in the military during World War II.
Career
Gunn used his training in the arts to teach public school. He then went on to serve as the curator of the Springville Art Museum. However, Gunn is best known for the 35 years he spent at BYU, inspiring countless students through his graphics and art history classes.
Comments from Students
The following two comments were published in BYU Magazine, Spring 2000, in an article titled Professors of the Century.
I had some wonderful professors during my stint at BYU, but my most influential and favorite, would have to be Richard Gunn, professor of art history. I wasn't even interested in art history when I signed on with Professor Gunn, but needed a fine arts class, and art history 101 fit my schedule. Once the class started, it didn't take long before we were all smitten with Prof. Gunn's love of art, love of his students, and general zest for life. His efforts to imbue in his students a love of great art worked their magic on me and have enriched my life to this day. I remember a particular day in the late 70s when our class found out that Prof. Gunn had been diagnosed with cancer in his leg and was absent from the class for a short time in order to undergo surgery. We were all surprised that he was only absent a couple of days. As I sat and listened to his lecture on the day of his return, I noticed that his wife was sitting in the front of the classroom. Prof. Gunn, never one to sit still during a class, sat on a stool at the front of the class with his crutches at his side. At one point, he neglected to grab his crutches when he got up and his wife, camera in hand, jumped up and took his picture as he stood before the class on his injured leg. We later found out that she was going to use the picture as evidence that he was disobeying doctor's orders! There was no keeping this man from doing what he loved most—sharing his love of art.
—Laurie Holmes Smith, ’76, Safford, Ariz.
I hope I am not too late to add Dr. Gunn to your list of professors of the 20th century. His art history classes were not only full of information, but also full of life and enthusiasm. I am still looking forward to a trip to Greece to see in reality all he showed us through slides...perhaps when my own children are out of college?
—Gail Pidduck, ’72, Santa Paula, Calif.
Images
