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Welcome to a series of stories celebrating SIU\u2019s 150th anniversary.<\/em><\/p>\n By Rebecca Renshaw<\/p>\n The first thing you notice about Roy and Marianne Abrahamson is the distinct twinkle in their eyes. Married 56 years, they share a life rich in art, laughter and the art of giving.<\/p>\n \u201cArt is transformational,\u201d says Roy Abrahamson, an SIU art education professor for 31 years until his retirement in 1996. \u201cArt is the ability to transform what one sees into an artistic formation according to one\u2019s inner holistic view.\u201d<\/p>\n The transformational power of art led the couple to establish the Dr. Roy E. Abrahamson Art Education Endowed Scholarship to help students afford an education \u2013 so the students, in turn, can contribute to the artistic transformation of others.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy is the type of artist that doesn\u2019t sit and sketch what he sees,\u201d Marianne Abrahamson says. \u201cInstead, he takes in the scene and records it with an inner eye.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy Abrahamson\u2019s love of art has taken him from one coast to the other. After receiving his bachelor\u2019s degree in art education from the University of Minnesota, he studied with Henry Schaefer-Simmern at the Institute of Art Education in Berkley, California. After obtaining a master\u2019s degree in elementary and secondary education from San Francisco State University, he served three years in the Army during the Korean War.<\/p>\n Following his military service, he taught public school in San Francisco. In 1960, Roy and Marianne married, and in 1963 they moved to New York, where Roy Abrahamson earned a doctoral degree in art education at Columbia University. In 1965, he joined the School of Art and Design faculty at SIU, teaching art education to hundreds of students during his tenure.<\/p>\n While at SIU he also served as president of the Illinois Art Education Association, and was a member of the National Art Education Association and the International Society for Education through Art. In addition, he wrote and published many research articles in professional journals. He also took part in a research grant program involving student teachers and mentally handicapped children and organized annual hands-on art sessions for children from southern Illinois schools.<\/p>\n Perhaps one of Roy Abrahamson\u2019s greatest achievements came after his retirement from SIU. He was asked by the widow of his late mentor Schaefer-Simmern to co-edit a book titled \u201cConsciousness of Artistic Form.\u201d A copy of the book sits prominently in the couple\u2019s living room.<\/p>\n Marianne Abrahamson says they recently saw an opportunity to give back to the university that was such a significant part of their lives.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a native of Germany myself, and both of us growing up during WWII, the experiences of that time formed our outlook,\u201d she says. \u201cWhile we never had much money back in the early years, we knew how to make the most of what we had. And now that we have the funds, we want to help deserving students in art education get their education.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout my career and throughout our lives, it\u2019s always been about helping students demonstrate art that is true to their inner being,\u201d Roy Abrahamson says. \u201cMarianne and I established the scholarship to help students who could not otherwise afford an education. It is a good feeling to have.\u201d<\/p>\n Engage with us on\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Welcome to a series of stories celebrating SIU\u2019s 150th anniversary. By Rebecca Renshaw The first thing you notice about Roy and Marianne Abrahamson is the distinct twinkle in their eyes. Married 56 years, they share a life rich in art, laughter and the art of giving. \u201cArt is transformational,\u201d says Roy Abrahamson, an SIU art … Continue reading 150 Stories of Philanthropy: The Art of Giving<\/span> ![\"Roy](\"http:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/abrahamson1-300x200.jpg\")
The gift of expression is evident throughout the Abrahamsons\u2019 home in Carbondale. The artwork that adorns their walls and coffee tables reflects Roy Abrahamson\u2019s fascination with multiple types of art \u2013 from temperas, to oils, to caseins, to acrylics, to watercolors and wood sculptures.<\/p>\n