Marshall mourns loss of professor, artist

An artist who spent much of his time behind a brush or in front of his classroom died Wednesday, leaving many students and professors stricken with grief over the sudden loss.

Stanley Sporny, an artist and professor of art at Marshall University, was also a husband and father. Born in 1946, Sporny was in his early 60s when he died.

An official report of his death is not yet available, but Mary Grassell, a friend and colleague of Sporny said his body was found in the woods near his home after he was noticed missing. Sporny is believed to have had a heart attack while he was in the woods alone.

"He was an avid hunter and that is how he passed away; on a hunting trip," Grassell said. "He loved his guns."

Sporny was not only a frequent hunter, but also an accomplished painter. Collections of his paintings can be found in The National Museum of American Art and The Utah Museum of Fine Art. He has also been featured in publications such as the Washington Post and the New Art Examiner.

"Certainly it's a shock and tragic loss for Stan's family, but also for the art and design family here at Marshall and the entire arts community," said Byron Clercx, chair of the Department of Art and Design. "I know how dearly his colleagues and all of the students he worked with over the years will miss him."

According to a biography posted on the art department's Web site, Sporny described his paintings as "abstract expressionism on a realist framework." Many of his works were made by using liberal amounts of oil paint to create a textured "feel" to his visual art.

"His work was very fluid and moving. Every brushstroke had a movement and life of its own," Grassell said. "His colors were very vibrant. You could find a lot of movement in his work."

Sporny's work is also featured at the Veteran's Hospital in Huntington. According to his Web site, Sporny said visitors to the hospital claimed his paintings helped them become calm and at peace even when they were worried about the patient they were visiting.

Grassell said Sporny was known as a favorite of many of the art students. Michelle White, 20 year-old art education major from Huntington, said he was her painting instructor.

"He was a really good professor," White said. "He was really into students' rights. He was one of those people that would go to bat for you if you needed him to."

Grassell said he seemed perfectly healthy and everyone in the art department was shocked by the loss.

"Anybody who knew him just loved him," Grassell said. "He was always positive and always funny. When I think of Stan, even now, I just smile."

More information, including funeral arrangements, will be reported when it is available. A few pieces of Sporny's artwork are on display at the Callen McJunkin Gallery on Hale Street in Charleston.

Taylor Kuykendall can be contacted at kuykendall@marshall.edu.