Longtime Alaska art educator dies at 89

A celebration of Saradell Ard's life will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. Ms. Ard was born March 22, 1920, in Macon, Ga., to Lillian Garrett Ard and John Ard. She grew up in Georgia and Florida and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky., in 1942 and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1943. She began her career as an instructor of art and speech at Asbury College from 1942 to 1947 and became an assistant professor of art and speech at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., from 1947 to 1952.

Prior to coming to Alaska, she worked as a civilian for the U.S. Army Arts and Crafts Program from 1954 to 1962. She began this phase of her career as an educational supervisor in Whittier, Alaska, and advanced through the ranks to become the chief of European services for 150 Army installations.

Ms. Ard came to Anchorage to teach art and speech at Alaska Methodist University in 1962. She was promoted to professor of art and speech in 1970 when she earned her Doctorate of Education from Columbia University Teacher's College in New York City. Her doctoral dissertation was "Analysis of Two-Dimensional Eskimo Pictorial Representation with Relevance for Art Teaching in Alaska." She continued to teach at AMU until 1973, when she was hired by the University of Alaska Anchorage as a professor of art. She served UAA in many capacities, including as chairman of the Humanities Division 1974-1976 and acting dean of the College of Arts and Sciences 1976-1977. Ms. Ard retired from the university in 1985 and was named professor of art emerita at that time.

She continued her interest in Eskimo art throughout her life. She compiled significant research on circumpolar Inuit and Inupiat art from prehistoric times to the present. She traveled widely to museums in Russia, Scandinavia, Canada and the United States to photograph and describe the art she saw. Ms. Ard was particularly interested in encouraging the creation of new works of art by Alaska Native artists.

In addition to teaching and research, she was noted as an outstanding visual artist. She is recognized for her abstract paintings and her use of vibrant color. Her paintings are in the permanent collections of UAA and the Anchorage Museum. Ms. Ard participated in many All Alaska Juried Art Exhibitions, winning the Juror's Choice Award in 1966 and the award in drawing in 1967. She was a founding member of the Anchorage Museum Association and served on the board from 1969 to 1985. She also served on the Anchorage Historical and Fine Arts Commission, which provided oversight to the Anchorage Museum from 1972 to 1982. During that time, she served on the acquisition committee and played an important role in selecting work for the museum's permanent collection. Shortly before she sold her home, she donated her private collection of Alaska art to the museum.

She was a founding member of the Visual Arts Center of Alaska, which played a vital role in supporting contemporary art in Alaska from 1973 to 1976.

Saradell Ard married Robert Allen Frederick, Ph.D., a professor of history at Alaska Methodist University, in 1969, and was divorced in 1983. She married John R. Van de Water, Ph.D., of Southern California on June 21, 1990, and lived with him until his death in 2001. Survivors include John Van de Water's children and Robert Frederick and his children, who remained close friends after the divorce. She leaves behind many artists and students whose lives she touched and many friends who will miss her presence.

Contributions in honor of Saradell Ard may be made to UAA, Saradell Ard Art Scholarship Fund or the Anchorage Museum Foundation's Saradell Ard Memorial Fund.

Arrangements are with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel.

Visit the online memorial at legacy.com