MATHER GALLERY - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

The MATHER GALLERY, formally known as the Flora Stone Mather Gallery, is a student- and faculty-coordinated art gallery located on the 1st floor of Thwing Ctr., the student union building of CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY., on Euclid Ave. The idea for a student/faculty gallery was first proposed by members of the Art Education Dept. of CWRU with the Student Union Board in early 1973. On Sunday, 21 Oct. 1973, made possible by a gift of the Mather Alumnae Assn., the Mather Gallery opened its doors in a room that had once housed the campus paperback bookstore. The opening exhibition presented works by members of the art department faculty, while the following show, "Photography and Sculpture of CWRU Students," drew responses from over 150 artists, who submitted 250 works of art. In Nov. 1973 the gallery hired a manager to aid the volunteer student committee; Mary Weiss, a student finishing her degree in art education, became the first gallery manager in 1974. Since 1973, in addition to presenting exhibitions of both local and national reputation, the gallery has hosted poetry readings, festivals, recitals, jazz concerts, and plant and print sales, and has become an integral part of campus life at CWRU.

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