If it weren't for Van Deren Coke, UNM wouldn't have the photography collection it does.
Coke, who died July 11 at the age of 83, was a photographer, an educator, a curator and the founding director of the University of New Mexico Art Museum.
"Van Deren Coke (1921-2004): His Life in Photography" celebrates his life and contributions to UNM. Half of the exhibit, showing at the University art museum, is his photographs, and the rest consists of famous pieces he collected throughout the years.
Linda Bahn, director of the art museum, said before Coke, UNM's art collection was scattered around campus in people's offices.
"He gathered this work together to form the nucleus of the art museum," she said.
Bahn said the museum, in the Department of Art and Art History, was built in support of UNM's photography program, which is ranked second in the nation.
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"He put us on the map to becoming probably the best university collection of photography," Bahn said.
Coke, who was twice married with children, was born in 1921. He became chair of the Art and Art History Department in 1966 and remained there until 1979. Later he was the director of the San Francisco Museum's Department of Photography. He loved Mexico, and the exhibit features many photographs he took during his travels there.
In 1987, he retired and returned to Santa Fe.
"I don't know why he loved New Mexico," Bahn said. "Probably because of the reputation of its department."
While in Santa Fe, Coke was still a great benefactor to UNM.
"He was always available to discuss, to advise, and to suggest photographers that we should look at," Bahn said.
UNM photography students now have the benefit of having a great collection, Bahn said. Over the years, Coke donated more than 1,600 pieces to the museum.
"Bahn was endlessly curious and interested in art and the history of photography," she said. "He was a tireless historian."
In his early work, he showed respect for photography that had not been manipulated. Later, he turned to surrealism, and would piece together overlapping fragments of images he had found in newspapers and magazines.
One piece displayed in the exhibit, "Desiccated Rodent," is a picture of a decaying rodent. "The Hand in the Face" is a surrealist piece with a mouth placed inside an open hand.
Bahn said Coke was a master in his own right, and he inquired about art until his final days.
"Even when he was in the hospital, he wanted to hear the latest news and discuss the latest work," she said.
COMING ATTRACTION
Van Deren Coke
(1921-2004)
His Life in Photography
UNM Art Museum
Through Dec. 12
