RICHMOND'S ORIGINAL MATRON OF ART
Theresa Pollak is an ethereal wisp of history to most Richmonders who even know her name, and most of them can make -- at best -- a loose connection to art and to VCU. But several generations ago, Theresa Pollack was art at Virginia Commonwealth University, and one of the cornerstones of art education in Richmond. She was instrumental in creating the art programs at VCU and the University of Richmond, and is credited with introducing modern art to Richmond.
VCU Libraries' Special Collections Department has a small online section devoted to Pollak, who died several years ago, including an oral history interview conducted in 1975 that is filled with wonderful anecdotes:
Well, anyway, to come back to the nude model, I felt that you really could not teach properly without one. And, of course , I don't think Dr. Hibbs was against the idea of a nude model. He was more afraid, and I suppose rightly so, of attitudes of people. Already there was so much criticism against the school because it was so unorthodox, different from any other school, and other college. And it was looked down on terribly. So, of course, I couldn't have nude models.
Well, we started out with models who wore adagio costumes ... Then we started to use two-piece bathing suits. Well, Dr. Hibbs said, "Now don't let anybody in that room except people that are registered in the class."
And one day there was a knock at the door, and I went to the door, closing it carefully behind me so nobody could look in, and there was Dr. Hibbs with a visitor, somebody visiting the school. Dr. Hibbs introduced me, and said this man was visiting and was interested in the Art School. And I had the door shut behind me the whole time and never asked him in. Well, the next day, Dr. Hibbs called me in his office, and he was really upset. He said that I had been rude and that I had shut the door behind me, not asking them in, and so forth. And I said, "Well, Dr. Hibbs, you told me not to let anybody in that room when the model was posing." And he said, "Miss Pollak, when you came out of the door, I caught a glimpse of that model and there wasn't any more than you see on the beach all the time." I said, "Well, I know this, but I was following instructions."
Well then (this is also in the book), Dr. Hibbs went to New York, and visited a burlesque show which, of course, is an interesting comment on Dr. Hibbs --- a burlesque show; he was such a very human, a wonderful person. And he said, "Miss Pollak, I went to a burlesque show and these people just had these little G-straps on, you know, and I don't see why we couldn't do this here."
Richmond.com also has a few good articles about Pollak online, including two 1999 Style Weekly articles -- one celebrating her 100th birthday and the second on UR's centennial exhibition of her work.
