MCC Arts and Education Center Gallery Named in Memory of Adolf and Virginia Dehn

Manchester, CT – (December 21, 2012) . . . Supporters of the MCC Foundation and art education in the community gathered together to celebrate the dedication of the Adolf and Virginia Dehn Gallery at the MCC Arts and Education Center on December 13.

The gallery was named in memory of Adolf and Virginia Dehn by the Adolph and Virginia Dehn Foundation.The Dehn Foundation has generously supported the MCC visiting artist program for several years and recently committed a $125,000 gift to support the new art gallery at MCC on Main.

The gallery currently features works from Virginia Dehn’s INSCAPES exhibition, which will be on display in the gallery through February 7. The artwork is also available for sale and 50 percent of the proceeds will support MCC on Main.

Virginia Engleman Dehn grew up in Hamden, Connecticut, and studied art in Missouri and New York City, where she met renowned lithographer and wartercolorist Adolph Dehn. As husband and wife, the two artists worked side by side for many years, part of a group of artists who influenced the history of 20th century American art.

The Adolf and Virginia Dehn Foundation was established by Virginia Dehn to promote the arts and is administered by Viriginia Dehn’s niece and nephews – Derick Lowe, Virginia Lowe Connors and Andrew Lowe. Their father, Frederick W. Lowe, Jr., served as Manchester Community College’s first president when the college was founded nearly fifty years ago.

During the dedication, Virginia Lowe Connors stated, “Our dad, Fred Lowe, started off as the first president of MCC when it was very humble. He had a lot of vision for what the college could be as part of the community. I think that even he would be blown away by what it has become,” she continued, “My aunt and uncle were very centered in the arts and it’s great to have them remembered here. Arts and education are very important to our family.”

MCC on Main is open to the public on Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Live music is featured on Friday evenings. The facility is also the new home of Urban Storytellers, a spoken word and poetry series; Mishi-maya-gat, the college’s premier poetry and music event; Movie Classics on Main, a film series; and Books to Film, a series highlighting films made from contemporary and classic novels. A complete calendar of events can be viewed at MCC on Main.

The Manchester Community College Arts and Education Center – MCC on Main – located at 903 Main Street in downtown Manchester is a partnership with the Town of Manchester to build a culturally vibrant and economically strong town center. It offers an art and video gallery, Entrepreneurship Center and café. Seminar and conference rooms for classes and event-related programming are available. One of the main focal points is the art gallery, which is named for Adolf and Virginia Dehn. MCC on Main is entirely funded through philanthropy.

Students of any age who possess the desire to pursue higher education are welcome at Manchester Community College. MCC is proud of its academic excellence, new facilities, flexible schedules, small classes, low tuition and faculty with both academic and “real world” credentials. The College offers over 60 programs, transfer options, financial aid and scholarships, as well as access to baccalaureate degrees through guaranteed admissions programs with several universities. MCC is situated on a park-like campus and is easily accessible from I-84.

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View the Adolf and Virginia Dehn Gallery Dedication Photo Gallery