The Western Carolina University (WCU) Fine Art Museum at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center will be broadening the scope of artists represented in its holdings thanks to contributions from a Macon County couple.
Franklin residents William Banks Hinshaw and Robin Markle Hinshaw recently made gifts and pledges totaling $125,000 for the permanent collections of the WCU Fine Art Museum.
Practicing physicians at Markle and Hinshaw Gynecology in Franklin, the Hinshaws came to discover Western Carolina University shortly after their arrival in Macon County in 2000. Banks Hinshaw accepted an invitation to lecture at a class at WCU on the dangers of certain medications prescribed for osteoporosis, a subject he has followed and published on since 1995.
The Hinshaws became more aware of the university after they worked with a graduate from WCU’s doctoral program in family nurse practitioner and collaborated with another graduate of that program in a project to generate interest in a new Hospice House in Franklin.
“Much later, I had an idea that WCU might have an interest in my small collection of mid-20th century Latin American fine art that I deemed needed a permanent home,” Banks Hinshaw said.
Those conversations about adding the Hinshaws’ art from Latin America to the museum collection spurred discussion about possible financial contributions. WCU Fine Art Museum staff and its collection committee are currently in the process of evaluating the Hinshaws’ art collection as a step in the process of making that gift of artwork a reality.
The couple’s gift comes as WCU approaches the public launch of its “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $75 million for the university’s academic, student engagement, and athletics programs.
For more information about the “Fill the Western Sky” campaign or to make a contribution, visit WesternSky.wcu.edu, call (828) 227-7124 or email [email protected].
Pictured top: GEORGE BROWN, dean of the David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts at Western Carolina University (left), and Denise Drury Homewood, executive director of Bardo Arts Center (right) meet with donors William Banks Hinshaw and Robin Markle Hinshaw.