Derwin W. Edwards

Derwin W. Edwards, one of three children, was born on April 27, 1917 in Jamestown, New York. He died on July 15, 1999 at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, Ohio.

Derwin graduated from high school in 1935. After screening many university catalogues in pursuit of a career in art, he chose Miami University. He was greatly influenced by its outstanding curriculum and art education department. After the first week of classes, he was literally "in love" with Miami-a love affair that continued for 46 years.

Upon completion of his Bachelor of SCience degree in 1940, Derwin continued on at Miami at the invitation of Miss Swisher, Department Chair, to be her Graduate Assistant. He then taught public school in Irwin, Pennsylvania for one year, served 3 1/2 years in the U.S. Army, and served a year as vocational training director of the Chicago Goodwill Industries. At the request of Dean Ashbaugh in the School of Education, he returned to Miami as a member of the art education faculty in 1946. He had studied enameling and textile design at the Cleveland Institute of Art and received an MFA from Case Western Reserve University. In 1949 he worked on a doctorate at Pennsylvania State University, being the first doctoral candidate to study under Victor Lowenfeld, a renowned art educator in this country. When Miss Swisher announced her retirement in 1949, Aorence Penn became the Acting Chair. The Dean then offered Derwin the chairmanship, a position he held for 22 years.

Through his association with the National Art Education Association (NAEA) and art educators from ali parts of the country,·a workshop in student teaching was developed. With support from Miami faculty, a full time student teaching program was accredited in the School of Education in 1952.

During the 1950s and 60s, Miami's art education program was one of the leading undergraduate programs in the nation. It became the envy of many institutions of learning in the field. The graduate program in art education was established in 1951, graduating its first master of art education degree candidate in 1954. With Derwin's continued leadership, enameling on copper and silver, stitchery, and silkscreen textile printing were introduced and consequently offered in the art education program. Ceramic offerings were expanded and a new instructor was hired for this three-dimensional

media. The Children's Saturday Morning Art class (prior to student teaching) was established as a laboratory experience in the art methods course for majors. A special degree in art education-the second year of graduate study beyond the master's-was developed. Three annual scholarships were offered in the department.

Derwin's teaching career was multi-faceted. In addition to being chair, he taught the departmental courses that faculty were required to teach. Students were encouraged to take part in a variety of studio offerings as well as to develop a strong proficiency in an art discipline of their own choosing. The theory of child development and one's own development and growth were very strongly emphasized. Derwin returned to the classroom full time in 1972 after the department merged with the Fine

Arts Department.

Derwin's favorite studio-fabric design-stressed sensitively designed, patterned fabric in color. He was a stickler for lines, shapes, and colors working harmoniously together. Students instinctively knew they had to be meticulous in the fabric silk-screening studio-that was a given. Word soon spread among students that certain faculty members, including Derwin, were staff with whom to become involved if one desired a strong disciplinary experience; likewise, the same were to be avoided if one was not willing to study, work hard, and apply oneself to the intellectual and physical task.

Sharing knowledge and information was not Derwin's only approach to teaching; genuine

concern for the student's academic development was another of his attributes. He looked upon the art education department as an extended family. Social gatherings and a more personal dimension in the life of a prospective teacher were encouraged. To this end, he served as advisor to students in Kappa Phi Kappa, an education honorary, Delta Phi Delta, an art honorary, the Lutheran Student Association, and the majors in the department.

Derwin's life as a professional person was evident in his role as teacher, administrator, and productive artist. His textiles were featured in numerous competitive invitationals and one-man shows in the eastern portion of the country. He designed and donated the faceted stained glass windows in Oxford's Lutheran Church, where he was a member. He was especially proud of his Swedish heritage-no surprise then that part of his artistic focus was on Swedish folk art. He was influential in establishing a social chapter for Swedish programs and arts and developed a procedure for making Scandinavian rya rugs for exhibit.

Derwin had served as President of the Oxford Arts Club and the Penn State University Art

Education Club as well as President of the Ohio Art Education Association. He belonged to many state and national organizations dealing with education and art education, serving as officer, exhibition chairman, and workshop planner. School of Education bulletins were published under his watchful eye.

Derwin was active throughout his life, still visiting Oxford occasionally to lunch with colleagues even after retiring (1980) and moving away.