Photo provided The Bartholomew County Historical Society is hosting the Philip R. Miller Exhibition through Nov. 9, which showcases the late educator’s artwork.
A Columbus East High School student is partnering with the Bartholomew County Historical Society on a senior project that pays tribute to the high school’s first art teacher.
The historical society is hosting the Philip R. Miller Exhibition through Nov. 9, which showcases the late educator’s artwork. There will be an open house from 5-6 p.m. today, with a presentation from East senior Casper Cavanaugh.
“I wish I would have had the chance to meet Mr. Miller, he was a great person who loved his students, and he was knowledgeable in many different forms of art,” Cavanaugh said, “and I just wish I had him as a teacher.”
Diane Robbins, the executive director of the historical society, said that Miller was known for creating retirement cards for the staff at East. The exhibit includes several of these cards, as well as Miller’s senior cords from his own time in high school. Some of the pieces have been donated to the society, while others are on loan.
“The cards were personal gifts with inside jokes and all kinds of things that the teachers and Mr. Miller knew about each other,” Cavanaugh said. “The part that took the longest is collecting the cards from all of these retired teachers, but of course, I had help. Once I got the cards, I was able to set up the exhibit at the Bartholomew County Historical Society.”
Other work included creating a social media post about the exhibit and organizing Monday’s event.
“I’m hoping to have people share stories about him so everyone can have a laugh and just have a good time honoring his memory,” Cavanaugh said.
“There’s probably not too many people in Columbus that didn’t know of Phil Miller and his art talents and the influence that he had on his students,” Robbins said.
Miller graduated from Columbus High School in 1962 and completed his masters degree in fine arts at Ball State University in 1968.
He returned to Columbus that same year and began his 43-year teaching career at what was then called Central Junior High School and Columbus Senior High School. He was the first art teacher at East in 1971, and his legacy includes chairing the art department for 37 years, developing the Olympians theme for the school, and designing the torch logo. He was also the first art instructor at IU Columbus.
Miller died of prostate cancer on Aug. 30, 2009, just one day before his 65th birthday. He was inducted into the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s Education Hall of Fame the following year.
“My event is a chance for people to remember him and honor his memory,” Cavanaugh said. “Some people didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to him at his memorial service, but my event is a chance for people to make up for that.”
If you go
What: Philip R. Miller Exhibition
When: The exhibit runs through Nov. 9. There will be an open house this Monday, Nov. 6 from 5-6 p.m.
Where: Bartholomew County Historical Society, 524 Third St.
