Farrell Way
For over thirty years, Kathleen Farrell has been the face of visual arts at Monroe Community College. No single person in MCC’s history has been more responsible for building and maintaining its presence of arts and arts education. Through persistence and tireless advocacy, she has created valuable opportunities for local and national artists and secured several arts spaces at the Brighton and Downtown campuses for the purposes of multi-disciplinary pedagogy and aesthetic enjoyment. Although she is most readily identified with her directorship of the Mercer Art Gallery, Kathleen has introduced several auxiliary galleries, including but not limited to: in the Brighton campus library, the Forum, the President’s suite, Building 12 (first and second floors), and Building 4’s “Deadwood Gallery.” Additionally, several hallways on both campuses feature work from artists affiliated with MCC through academic service or prior collaborations. By extension, numerous walls on various campus sites throughout the city feature murals completed by students under her leadership. In a word, Kathleen has spent much of her tenure at MCC transforming mundane common areas into dynamic public spaces featuring two- and three-dimensional art.
Beyond her work as curator and gallery director, Kathleen created and ran two long-running arts series: Performing Arts and Creative Arts. Both initiatives have featured music, visual art, theater, and literary readings. Each year, the MCC community has been able to access new and exciting programming due in large part to Kathleen’s efforts. While such work will continue, current faculty overseeing future projects have benefitted from her mentorship and tutelage. She has also been a celebrated teacher whose commitment to her students is legendary.
A brief tribute such as this cannot fully encompass the enormity of Kathleen’s contributions to the College, its students, its faculty, staff, and the community at large. The purpose of Farrell Way is to remind all who pass through it that Kathleen Farrell is a truly unique and special person. Through Farrell Way, we salute her service and learn from her example.
