While a small university gallery such as the Western Gallery may have a far reaching mission statement for temporary exhibitions - to encompass contemporary developments in the region and abroad - it can not collect and preserve art from all past and present world cultures. The Western Gallery does specialize in works on paper, primarily prints and drawings, which now include the Leese Collection and the Helen Loggie Archives; the gallery also stores the collections jointly owned by the Washington Art Consortium. We have received generous support for the websites on the Leese Collection and Loggie Archives from the Washington Art Consortium.
In 2005 Marian Leese Boylan gave her parent's private collection to the Western Gallery. This collection, primarily American and European prints and drawings accompanied by a few paintings, enlarged individual gifts from Al and Vera Leese since 1995 and enriched the gallery's present holdings. In furthering her parent's commitment to art, Marian Leese Boylan also has made major contributions to the Leese Collection since 2005.
There are as many types of individual collectors as there are differences in sensibilities. The Leese Family's love of learning, particularly in the field of prints and drawings, has drawn them close to artists of the Northwest. Their love of travel, passion for sharing in a discussion, and desire to grow along with contemporary art led them to the major art centers of Portland and Seattle as well as the lively university areas in Oregon and Washington.
