FOUNDERS FEATURE: SAM MORELLO
The Founders Feature highlights the Buckham Fine Arts Project and the artists involved from our early days.
Founders Feature: May 7 - May 13
Founding member, Sam Morello, is an ambitious printmaker and passionate artist. Morello’s prints are included in numerous collections including the Flint Institute of Arts.
Morello taught visual arts at Mott Community College from 1967 until his retirement in 1997. It was during his time at MCC that Morello met Nuzum and others in Flint who were excited about contemporary art and having a community of artists who could challenge each other. With much hard work, they brought together the Buckham Fine Arts Project.
“Sam was the brains of the operation and Buckham would not have thrived had it not been for his leadership and his attention to the realities of running a not-for-profit, artist-run gallery in downtown Flint Michigan,” shared Buckham member, John Dempsey.
In addition to many exhibitions at Buckham Gallery, Morello exhibited in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Kalamazoo.
Founders Feature: May 7 - May 13
Founding member, Sam Morello, is an ambitious printmaker and passionate artist. Morello’s prints are included in numerous collections including the Flint Institute of Arts.
Morello taught visual arts at Mott Community College from 1967 until his retirement in 1997. It was during his time at MCC that Morello met Nuzum and others in Flint who were excited about contemporary art and having a community of artists who could challenge each other. With much hard work, they brought together the Buckham Fine Arts Project.
“Sam was the brains of the operation and Buckham would not have thrived had it not been for his leadership and his attention to the realities of running a not-for-profit, artist-run gallery in downtown Flint Michigan,” shared Buckham member, John Dempsey.
In addition to many exhibitions at Buckham Gallery, Morello exhibited in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Kalamazoo.
Sam & Buckham
John Dempsey, May 2020
If there was no Sam Morello then there would be no Buckham Gallery. There is no question in my mind about that. Sam is the designated adult. He oversaw the Michigan grant applications, he served as president, vice-president and treasurer for many, many years. He led the Board of Directors for many, many years serving as the bridge between the gallery director and the Board and the Membership. He led efforts to organize, and run countless fund raising efforts, membership drives and spearheaded frequent efforts to motivate artist-members to pitch in and help the gallery function. Early-on he even called out the Bingo numbers and raffle winners during many of those fundraising efforts. Sam was the brains of the operation and Buckham would not have thrived had it not been for his leadership and his attention to the realities of running a not-for-profit, artist-run gallery in downtown Flint Michigan. If you don't believe me then try it sometime without Sam and see how far you get.
John Dempsey, May 2020
If there was no Sam Morello then there would be no Buckham Gallery. There is no question in my mind about that. Sam is the designated adult. He oversaw the Michigan grant applications, he served as president, vice-president and treasurer for many, many years. He led the Board of Directors for many, many years serving as the bridge between the gallery director and the Board and the Membership. He led efforts to organize, and run countless fund raising efforts, membership drives and spearheaded frequent efforts to motivate artist-members to pitch in and help the gallery function. Early-on he even called out the Bingo numbers and raffle winners during many of those fundraising efforts. Sam was the brains of the operation and Buckham would not have thrived had it not been for his leadership and his attention to the realities of running a not-for-profit, artist-run gallery in downtown Flint Michigan. If you don't believe me then try it sometime without Sam and see how far you get.
Sam Morello
Sam Morello started his education at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, majoring in Art. After two years, Sam transferred to the College of the San Francisco Art Institute, where he earned a BFA, majoring in Painting, and minoring in Printmaking and Drawing. Following his undergraduate studies, Sam began graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. After a year, he returned to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he completed his MFA.
A teaching position at Mott Community College brought Sam Morello to Flint in 1962. Teaching an array of art classes, Morello developed the print studio and remained at Mott for several decades. In 1987, Sam became the Chairperson of the Fine Arts Division, a position he filled until retiring in 1997.
During his teaching career, Sam Morello exhibited throughout the country, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Oakland Art Museum, Oklahoma Art Center, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the San Francisco Museum of Art. During the early years of Buckham, Sam frequently exhibited at the gallery (1984, 1985, 1986, and 1988) and curated many of the gallery's exhibitions.
Sam Morello started his education at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, majoring in Art. After two years, Sam transferred to the College of the San Francisco Art Institute, where he earned a BFA, majoring in Painting, and minoring in Printmaking and Drawing. Following his undergraduate studies, Sam began graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. After a year, he returned to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he completed his MFA.
A teaching position at Mott Community College brought Sam Morello to Flint in 1962. Teaching an array of art classes, Morello developed the print studio and remained at Mott for several decades. In 1987, Sam became the Chairperson of the Fine Arts Division, a position he filled until retiring in 1997.
During his teaching career, Sam Morello exhibited throughout the country, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Oakland Art Museum, Oklahoma Art Center, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the San Francisco Museum of Art. During the early years of Buckham, Sam frequently exhibited at the gallery (1984, 1985, 1986, and 1988) and curated many of the gallery's exhibitions.