Jerry Schefcik, director of Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery

By Kristen Peterson (contact)

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Steve Marcus

Jerry Schefcik, director of Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery at UNLV, says what he likes best about his job is working with students.

Name: Jerry Schefcik, director of Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery

Age: 56

Education: Bachelor of Arts, Brigham Young University; master’s in art history and museum training, University of Denver

Getting to Vegas: Schefcik moved here from Nebraska at age 8 with his family. His father, wanting to leave the farm and settle elsewhere, tested several states to determine which would be best for his son’s severe asthma. Nevada won.

Career in art: His art studies began at UNLV. But after a couple of years of dabbling, he transferred to Brigham Young University, where he had friends. He volunteered at a museum in his senior year, which sparked an interest in a museum career as a way to support a family. His curated a Western art collection at Sangre de Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo, Colo. He followed the center’s director to Amarillo, Texas, where he spent five years as curator.

He came to UNLV for the opportunity to teach and work with students, and the mild-mannered, soft-spoken Schefcik is adored by artists and staff. He has seen a diverse group of art students come and go, and some of them, including Tim Bavington, Sush Machida Gaikotsu and David Ryan, are experiencing great success.

Schefcik celebrated his 20th anniversary at Donna Beam in March. He teaches introductory and advanced courses in gallery practices.

On UNLV students: “I get emotional about the artists. They’re here for a purpose, to do something, get a degree, find out who they are. I see myself in support of them, of service to them.”

On passion: “There are some artists who have to work. They can’t survive without it. Those are the ones I admire for their tenacity and desire, and they’re going to still be doing art years from now. That’s something inside them.”

The gallery: Located in the Alta Ham Fine Arts Building at UNLV, the Donna Beam Gallery serves mostly students, but aims to reach the broader community through diverse exhibits that demonstrate various styles, media and subject matter — installations, drawings, paintings, prints, video, performance art. “There are as many types of artists and interests as there are people here,” Schefcik says. He schedules about 12 exhibits a year, most of them student shows.

Schefcik strives to keep it pristine. “I keep fixing holes, sanding and painting, fixing holes, sanding and painting. I’m fussy about the gallery,” he says, laughing.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1994, he is gradually losing motor skills and easily fatigued, but he doesn’t let it hinder his devotion to the gallery — or life.

His faith: Schefcik joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1972. It defines his life and plays a huge role in his work. “It has to do with knowing who I am, why I’m here in the bigger picture. It helps me understand my role — to love my brothers and sisters. Love is service. Love is caring, love is sacrifice. Love can be a lot of work.”

Faith and art: “There are things I would disagree with, but the position I have in the gallery doesn’t give me license to censor what the students are doing. Part of what they’re doing is exploring. I don’t have to compromise myself for what I believe and for what I am. I can still do what I do and give whatever I need to give to these students so they can accomplish what they want to do. I see myself as support.”

On art careers: Art school doesn’t promise a career in the arts. After receiving his master’s, he sent 80 letters to potential employers and received three “maybes” before being hired in Pueblo. He tells students, “You will all find your place. There is a place for you out there and you will get there.”

Arts in Las Vegas: “It’s encouraging, then discouraging. Encouraging, then discouraging. Las Vegas was built on quick money, and people came here to get rich. Their interest was ‘me’ not ‘you,’ so that level of community support has yet to be fully developed. As Las Vegas matures, it will come. There is a really solid group of artists that are here.”

Other interests: “When I have the chance, I like to draw.”

Sticking around? “My roots are pretty deep here. I don’t think I’ll be leaving.”