Escape into Creativity

Over 25 years, Professor David Holleman, who died recently, taught fine arts at the College. He also taught at Harvard University and at adult education centers. He was 93.

At Stonehill part-time from 1971 to 1996, Holleman was, in many ways, a one-person arts department, often teaching up to five courses per semester, overseeing directed studies with students and every so often bringing in a guest artist to teach a course.

“Dave was easy going and had a way of working with students, opening them up to art and giving them permission to explore,” says his colleague Richard Grant, former Associate Dean of Academic Achievement and Director of Academic Services. 

Julie Hickey Martinos ’85 remembers Holleman as “a kind man who will be missed by many. He was a joy and offered an escape into creativity with so many wonderful projects such as drawing him with our eyes closed.”

Holleman was a renowned artist in his own right and his work is on display in museums, universities, churches and synagogues across the country. 

The ceramic mosaic of the College seal in the Merkert Gymnasium is his work.

Throughout his career, Holleman worked in ceramic mosaic murals, ceramic brick carvings, stained glass windows, bronze, fabric collages and hand-hooked wool tapestries. In his later years, he turned to colored pencil drawings.

You can learn more about Holleman through a lovely interview that he gave to public access television in Lexington last year, as well as through an appreciation of his work on his personal website.