Creator Record
Metadata
Name |
Wilber, Jessie |
Nationality or Tribal Affiliation |
American |
Dates & places of birth and death |
b. November 10, 1912, Whitewater, WI d. October 2, 1989, Bozeman, MT |
Education |
1933 - c. 1935: M.A., A.B. Colorado State Teachers' College, Greeley, CO |
Places of residence |
Illinois Ohio Boulder, CO Oklahoma Migchigan Dallas, TX Bozeman, MT |
Notes |
Wilber was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin, but grew up in Boulder, Colorado, and received an AB and MA from Colorado State Teaching College. She became interested in cubism in 1933, and explored other modern techniques in 1945 at the suggestion of Otis Dozier. After teaching for four years, Wilber came to Montana State College in Bozeman and remained there from 1941 to 1972. She was a dedicated professor, teaching painting, printmaking and drawing from 1941 to1972 and was director of the art department in the 1950s. She was a founding member of the Montana Institute of the Arts and was named "Artist of the Year" by the organization in 1973. Wilber met her life partner, Frances Senska, when Senska joined the faculty in 1946. Wilber and Senska, plus department head Cyril Conrad and faculty member Bob DeWeese, formed the core of the art program for the next two decades. In 1988, Senska and Wilber were co-recipients of the Montana Governor's Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts. |
