No other college or university in the world has as many sculptures by Betty Gold, one of the premiere living women artists, as Mary Baldwin University.
“Maasai Warriors” is the first sculpture to be installed at Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences, MBU’s branch campus in Fishersville, and the sixth overall at the university.
The work was generously donated by Gold’s daughter, Laura Bousquet, from her personal collection at her home in Texas.
The five additional sculptures are located on the main MBU campus in Staunton, including one inside the Center for Student Success in Grafton Library.
“We are so proud to live daily with the sculptures as they animate and punctuate our campus,” said President Pamela Fox at the dedication ceremony last week. “And they are a visible celebration and reminder to us of women’s leadership and creativity. Because Betty is an inspiration of creativity and perseverance.”
Internationally acclaimed as a pioneer for women artists in the field of sculpture, especially on a large scale, Gold rose to prominence in the 1970s creating monumental, geometric works. She has had solo exhibitions and placed sculptures in permanent collections both nationally and around the world.
Cultivating a dedicated relationship with MBU over the years, Gold received an honorary doctorate of humane letters at Commencement in 2014, and the documentary film about her life, A Year with Betty Gold, was premiered at Reunion in 2018.
Murphy Deming students and staff at the dedication ceremony for the sixth sculpture by internationally renowned artist Betty Gold to be installed at MBU.