Alum Donates Native American Art to OSU Art Department A portion of the gift is on display at the Gardiner Art Gallery through Aug. 8 Oklahoma State University’s art collection has expanded thanks to Dr. James B. Wise’s donation of more than 60 works of art now on display at the Gardiner Art Gallery in the Bartlett Center for the Visual Arts through Aug. 8. “His generous donation is a significant expansion of our holdings, especially in Native American art,” said Sallie McCorkle, professor and head of OSU’s Department of Art. “We are very grateful for Dr. Wise’s donation.” Wise, a 1957 OSU chemistry graduate, donated the prints and paintings to the Gardiner Permanent Collection of the Department of Art at OSU in June. His donation includes artwork by Native American artists such as Johnny Hawk, Bert Seabourn and DocTate Nevaquaya. Wise, an ophthalmologist living in Oklahoma City, bought the collection from a Native American art collector in Midwest City, Okla.

Dr. James B. Wise’s donated Native American art collection is now on display at OSU’s Gardiner Art Gallery through Aug. 8.

“I enjoy art, and we have paintings all over the house, but I don’t have enough walls to hang it on, so I thought if OSU wants Western art; here it is,” Wise said.

Wise has been a loyal supporter of OSU, giving more than $150,000 to various areas of the university including arts, sciences, education, engineering, agriculture and the library.

“When I went to Johns Hopkins Medical School from OSU, here I was a guy from a cow college surrounded by guys from Harvard and Stanford. I wondered how I’d do, but OSU had given me an excellent education, and I’m proud of this university,” Wise said.

The art department’s permanent collection began with graphic prints by the late Doel Reed, founder of the art department, and has grown to include more than 1,200 pieces by national and international artists.

A portion of the collection is always on display throughout the OSU campus, including the president’s house. The collection also serves a valuable tool art history students and faculty use for research and instruction.

The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.

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