HR 750 — Celebrating the life of Joseph Henry Seipel.

SPECIAL SESSION I INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24200271D I HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

750 NE Offered June 27, 2024 Celebrating the life of Joseph Henry Seip––––––––––Seipel. T Patrons––Carr, Cousins, Jones and Willett R –––––––––– WHEREAS, Joseph Henry Seipel, a renowned sculptor whose transformational tenure as dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts brought the institution to the forefront ofD graduate arts programs around the country, died on June 12, 2024;

andN Agreed to by the House of Delegates, June 28, 2024 R O WHEREAS, Joseph Henry Seipel, a renowned sculptor whose transformational tenure as dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts brought the institution to the forefront of L graWHEREAS, Joseph Seipel grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and began studying sculpture at the UL CollegeUniversity of Art'sWisconsin-Madison; Rinehart School of Sculpture;

andarnedhe subsequently earned a master's degree from the Maryland InsCituteInstitute WHEREAS,E JosephCollege Seipelof firstArt's joinedRinehart theSchool faculty of VirginiaSculpture; Commonwealth University (VCU) inE 1974 as a sculpture instructor;

heand becameWHEREAS, knownJoseph forSeipel hisfirst colossaljoined ceramicthe works,faculty demonstratingof toVirginia hisCommonwealth University (VCU) in D students that they could achieve their dreams, no matter how great;

andandc Dworks, demonstrating to his WHEREAS, Joseph Seipel served as a professor and chair of the Department of Sculpture for several years while also staying active in the Richmond community as the founder of the artist-run 1708 Gallery and co-founder of a restaurant in the Fan District;

and the Arts and served in that capacity until 2009 when he became the dean of the Savannah College of H Art and Design;

and R WHEREAS, Joseph Seipel returned to Richmond in 2011 as dean of the VCU School of the Arts 5 and led efforts that transformed the Richmond community and brought the school to national HE prominence;proWHEREAS, Joseph Seipel took on leadership roles in national and international organizations, where R he raised awareness of VCU's exceptional arts programs;

andhe 7also WHEREAS,expanded Josephcourse Seipelofferings tookto oninclude leadershipdigital rolesmedia into nationalbring andnew internationalgenerations organizations,0whereof heartists raisedto awarenessthe ofschool VCU'sand exceptionalheld artsparties programs;to showcase student artwork;

heand alsoSeipel expandedbuilt coursea offeringsculture toof includecreativity artwork;and collaboration across the entire university and health system and was admired by students and his peers alike for his wit, compassion, and dedication;

andaand toWHEREAS, bringJoseph newSeipel generationswas ofalso artistsresponsible tofor theseveral schoolrenovation and heldconstruction partiesprojects toat showcaseVCU, studentleading WHEREAS, believing firmly that the artsrevitalization are a foundational aspect of multiplethe disciplines,Depot JosephBuilding, Seipelwhich builthouses aclassrooms, culturestudios, of creativity and collaborationa acrossstudent thegalWHEREAS, entireamong universitymany andawards health system and wasaccolades, admiredJoseph bySeipel studentsreceived andthe hisLifetime peersAchievement alikeVCU; for his wit, compassion, and dedication;

and WHEREAS,Award Josephfrom Seipelthe wasInternational alsoSculpture responsibleCenter, for several renovation and construction projects at VCU, leading the revitalizationTheresa ofPollak theLifetime DepotAchievement Building,Award whichfrom housesRichmond classrooms,Magazine, studios, and athe student2018 gallery,Person andof the design,Year planning,award andfrom fundraising for the InstituteRichmond forTimes-Dispatch; Contemporary Art at VCU;

and 35WHEREAS, Awardafter retiring from the InternationalVCU SculptureSchool Center,of the TheresaArts, PollakJoseph LifetimeSeipel Achievementbriefly Awardserved fromas 36interim Richmonddirector Magazine,of and the 2018Fashion PersonInstitute of theTechnology Yearin awardNew fromYork, thethen opened two studios in Richmond Times-Dispatch;and retWHEREAS, Joseph Seipel will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Suzanne;

and / 37 WHEREAS, after retiring from the VCU School of the Arts, Joseph Seipel briefly served as interim 38 director of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, then opened two studios in Richmond and 39 returned to creating art full time;

and WHEREAS, Joseph Seipel will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Suzanne;

and numerous other family members andRESOLVED,and Thatfriends; the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Joseph Henry Seipel, the distinguished former dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts;

and,now, therefore, be it RESOLVEDRESOLVED, FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates preparehereby anote copywith ofgreat thissadness resolution for presentation to the familyloss of Joseph Henry Seipelbe asitl, anthe expressiondistinguished former dean of the HouseVirginia ofCommonwealth Delegates'University respectSchool forof histhe memory.Arts;

and, RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Joseph Henry Seipel as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.