Editor,
I just heard about the sudden death of David Craven over the weekend. I don’t call him a “distinguished professor and nationally and internationally known and respected art history scholar, author and teacher.” I think of him as my friend David.
David often stopped to chat at my front desk as he walked in and out of the art and art history office. He called me “Majority,” and I know he meant it as a clever nickname that probably began by accident.
Or he wanted the political opinions we often shared to be in the majority. He was passionate about his ideals and opinions — too much so sometimes. His tumultuous and prematurely ended chairmanship of the department during the last school year came too soon for him.
When he was chair, he brought renowned art critic and author Dave Hickey and his wife, curator and art history professor Libby Lumpkin, to teach at UNM. He brought in Assistant Professor Kathy Cyman to create an Arita (Japanese) ceramics area in Art Studio. He also presided over the first full department review in 10 years, and everyone in the department received high praise from the outside reviewers. David traveled extensively and frequently to speak and work and study.
He spoke Spanish, German and French. Last summer he traveled to Europe and Central America. He was particularly interested in the politics and culture of Nicaragua. He spent the winter holidays in North Carolina with his mother and other relatives.
For me, David was easy to work for and easy to talk to, even though I am officially a low-level employee here. He was generous, worked very hard and was sometimes distracted, but wasn’t quite an absent-minded professor.
His death was a great surprise because he seemed very healthy and robust. My condolences go to his family, friends, fellow staff, faculty and his students, who have lost a great teacher, mentor and friend.
Marjorie Crow
UNM staff
