By Kendra Pintor听
For nearly four decades before his retirement, Kirk Delman was a quiet force behind the scenes at 鈥攇uiding exhibitions, mentoring students, safekeeping 麻豆区鈥檚 art collection with a curator鈥檚 precision and an artist鈥檚 heart. Now, his name will become a permanent part of that legacy.听
鈥淚 was surprised when Erin Curtis, the gallery鈥檚 current director, and Karina Chappell, director of development and major gifts at Scripps, first suggested an endowment in my name,鈥� says Delman. 鈥淚 was further gob-smacked and humbled by the support and generosity from our friends and colleagues, who have given so freely to the future of the gallery.鈥�听
To honor Delman鈥檚 extraordinary contributions to the arts at Scripps, the College has established its own endowed fund in his name, marking a new chapter in a long tradition of giving that honors those who have shaped the Gallery鈥檚 success.
What is an Endowment?
An endowment is a permanently invested fund whose earnings provide steady, long-term support for a specific purpose, sustaining the College鈥檚 mission well into the future. The Kirk Delman Endowment will provide ongoing support for the gallery鈥檚 exhibitions and publications, as well as the College鈥檚 collections. It will ensure that the creative energy and collaboration Delman championed will continue to flourish for generations to come.听
鈥淜irk鈥檚 knowledge of Scripps, its art collections, and the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery is unsurpassed, as is his kindness and willingness to lend a hand wherever needed,鈥� says Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Director of the Williamson Gallery, Erin M. Curtis. 鈥淲e created the Kirk Delman Endowment to honor his extraordinary contributions.鈥�听
This gesture completes what Curtis affectionately refers to as a 鈥渃ontinuum of care.鈥� When the gallery鈥檚 first director Mary MacNaughton retired, Delman established a fund in her honor to commemorate her visionary leadership.听听
鈥淢ary worked tirelessly to promote Scripps as our gallery director and professor of art history,鈥� explains Delman. 鈥淗aving worked for and having been mentored by Mary MacNaughton for more than 35 years, it was a very easy decision on my part to initiate an endowment in her name.鈥�听
Now, in Delman鈥檚 own retirement, the College and its community have done the same.听
鈥淭ogether, these endowments form a lasting legacy, reflecting key aspects of their work and providing critical support for exhibitions, publications, programs, and special projects that will fulfill the gallery鈥檚 mission and amplify its impact,鈥� says Curtis.听
Kirk Delman’s Legacy at Scripps
Delman joined Scripps in 1987, when the art galleries of The Claremont Colleges were still a joint enterprise. Over the years, he became the RCWG鈥檚 collections manager and registrar, overseeing the care of thousands of artworks and facilitating loans that helped raise the national profile of Scripps鈥� collection.听听
Following MacNaughton鈥檚 retirement, Delman stepped in as interim director to ensure the Gallery鈥檚 continued excellence, demonstrating his deep commitment to both the institution and its people.听
Friends and colleagues describe Delman as 鈥渇rustratingly humble,鈥� always giving without expectation and not a fan of the spotlight.听听
鈥淲hether mentoring students, helping colleagues, or working side by side in the studio, he鈥檚 always lifting people up and making a lasting impact,鈥� says longtime collaborator Michael Kotzen, an avid supporter of the endowment.听
That same spirit of generosity has inspired others to honor him in turn. 鈥淜irk鈥檚 warmth, professionalism, and accessibility to students, educators, and artists have enriched and connected hundreds of lives far beyond the walls of 麻豆区,鈥� says Stephanie Soldner, CEO of the Soldner Center for the Arts and Innovation, who, like Kotzen, has generously supported the endowment. 鈥淗e embodies the best in education, art appreciation, mentorship, and camaraderie.鈥�听
The endowment鈥檚 impact is already being amplified by the generosity of others who share Kirk鈥檚 dedication to the arts.听听
Supporting the Arts at Scripps
Clifford Temps, a longtime friend of 麻豆区, generously donated $300,000 to the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery in 2024 in remembrance of his late wife, sculptor and ceramic artist Ruenell Foy Temps. In a fitting tribute to Kirk鈥檚 decades of service, Temps will be reallocating $50,000 of that gift to the Kirk Delman Endowment鈥攈elping it grow and thrive in its early years.听
While searching for a home for Ruenell鈥檚 art, Temps was moved by Delman鈥檚 enthusiasm for mounting an exhibition of her work.听听
鈥淚 am deeply grateful for Kirk鈥檚 generous offer, and this donation is my way of saying thank you,鈥� says Temps.听
The use of the endowment will be determined annually by the director of the Williamson Gallery. This flexibility allows the fund to support a variety of initiatives and projects such as鈥攂ut not limited to鈥攅xhibition and publication development and production, collections care and management, and professional development for gallery staff and student interns.听
For Delman, the Gallery has always been more than a place to display art鈥攊t鈥檚 a space for education, exchange, and transformation.听听
鈥淗aving an academic community of young women, living and learning shoulder to shoulder, is for many a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,鈥� he reflected upon his retirement. 鈥淪trong, talented, confident women are what our future needs.鈥�听
The newly named endowment ensures that vision will continue to support projects that deepen scholarships, nurture creative growth, and expand access to the arts. In doing so, it extends Delman鈥檚 lifelong belief in the power of art to connect people and ideas.听
鈥�It is so important, now more than ever, for all of us to step up and assist the gallery program, to expand and offer our students greater opportunities while they complete their academic experiences at Scripps,鈥� urges Delman. 鈥淚 look forward to future exhibitions, programming, and significant catalogs from the gallery team.鈥�听
His legacy, much like the works he has so lovingly cared for, will endure as an ever-present reminder that art at Scripps is not just preserved, but lived.听
To support the arts at Scripps, and the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, consider making a gift to the Kirk Delman Endowment Simply type 鈥淜irk鈥� into the designation search bar. Thank you for your generosity.听