Awards
2010 Distinguished Teaching of Art Award
Dean Nimmer, Massachusetts College of Art
Dean Nimmer
Dean Nimmer, professor emeritus of the Massachusetts College of Art, has had a distinguished, dynamic, and astonishing career as an educator empowering generations of artists through his enthusiasm and unbridled creativity. After thirty-four years of teaching service, he thwarted all expectations for a retired professor by embarking on a second career as community arts educator, author and provocateur. Nimmer’s ability to slip out of the mantle of expectations seems to be a hallmark of his career.
The large stack of letters from colleagues and former students attests to his unique impact and transformational connection with students. Gregory Amenoff writes: “It is important to remember that in 1972 notions of interdisciplinary thinking within visual arts were not all that commonplace. However, Nimmer seemed incapable of thinking in any manner that didn’t defy borders between mediums. Additionally, Dean didn’t just take interest in the external products created in his classes, but began his teaching at the very source of creation—the emotional and intellectual interiors of the students.”
Retirement has only accelerated Nimmer’s activity. He teaches at Holyoke Community College, where he guided the art program in finding a downtown site for studio and exhibition space to make their program more accessible to the community. His recently published book, Art from Intuition,is a vehicle for him to share his wisdom with a new generation of artists and educators. According to the special-needs children he teaches at Curtis Blake Day School, Nimmer is “awesome” and “cool,” an apt description of this indefatigable and innovative educator.
Jury: Debra Drexler, University of Hawai‘i, chair; Barbara Tisserat, Virginia Commonwealth University; and Ronald Leax, Washington University in St. Louis.
