October 1, 2003

Media Contacts: Lindsay Orth, (858) 822-5309 or Patti Quill, (858) 822-0661

STUART FOUNDATION DONATES $8 MILLION IN ARTWORK TO UCSD

The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) today announced an $8,047,500 in-kind gift of artwork from the Stuart Foundation. The gift consists of nine of the Stuart Collection’s 15 pieces of site-specific, contemporary sculptures (and their associated drawings, models, etc.) displayed throughout the 1,200-acre UCSD campus.

Art philanthropist James Stuart DeSilva launched the Stuart Collection in 1981 and the entire Stuart Collection has been donated to UCSD during the past 22 years. The collection bears DeSilva’s middle name because he wanted to deflect attention from himself. He appointed an internationally distinguished advisory committee made up of art historians, museum directors and working artists with a mission of finding the most provocative artists and sculptors to create their site specific works on the UCSD campus.

The first piece commissioned for the collection and a part of the Stuart Foundation gift is a 29-foot-tall, brightly colored “Sun God.” The work, created by Niki de Saint Phalle, has become a campus icon and has inspired an annual Sun God Festival celebrated each spring by the UCSD Associated Students. The other works included in the Stuart Foundation’s most recent gift are: Alexis Smith’s 560-foot-long slate tiled “Snake Path;” Terry Allen’s “Trees;” Michael Asher’s untitled fountain; Ian Hamilton Finlay’s “UNDA;” Elizabeth Murray’s “Red Shoe;” Bruce Nauman’s “Vices and Virtues;” Nam June Paik’s “Something Pacific;” and William Wegman’s “La Jolla Vista View.”

“UCSD is so fortunate to be a benefactor of James DeSilva’s vision and dedication,” said Chancellor Robert C. Dynes. “His eye for brilliant artists, and his ability to give artists the freedom to do innovative works, exemplifies the true spirit of UCSD. Our campus community will long benefit from his efforts and generosity.”

“Great universities are about imagining and putting great ideas together with great ambitions to accomplish what has never before been attempted,” said Mary Beebe, director of the Stuart Collection. “The Stuart Collection at UCSD has always encouraged artists to push their imaginations to the utmost and we will certainly continue to hold them to these high standards.”

In addition to serving as president of the Stuart Collection at UCSD, DeSilva was a founding member of the Chancellor’s Associates and served on the UC San Diego Foundation Board of Trustees and the Board of Overseers. He was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Associates Distinguished Service Medal, the Revelle Medal and the UC San Diego Foundation Civis Universitatis Award. DeSilva also served on the boards of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the San Diego Symphony and the San Diego Museum of Art.

DeSilva died at the age of 83 on September 12, 2002. Marne DeSilva, his wife, and Peter DeSilva, his son and current Stuart Foundation President, finalized the Stuart Collection gift after his passing to ensure his wishes were met.

The Stuart Foundation’s gift contributes to the $1 billion fund-raising goal of The Campaign for UCSD: Imagine What’s Next, which was publicly launched on March 15, 2003. Campaign priorities include supporting students and faculty through scholarships, fellowships and endowed chairs; creating and expanding academic programs; funding research endeavors and health sciences advancements; and providing innovation funds and unrestricted support.

For further information on the Stuart Collection, please call (858) 534-2117