For the Love of Art

Sally Struthers ’81 showcased her photos of ancient Greece and Rome in the solo exhibition, Legendary Places: Photographs by Sally A. Struthers, in Wright State University’s Student Union Art Gallery.

When Sally Struthers came to Wright State University in 1977 as a first-year student, she had never even heard of the field of art history.

“I had no idea what I was going to major in,” Struthers recalled. She thought about studying pre-law or becoming a math teacher.

That would all change when she enrolled in an art history course her first quarter.

“I knew then that I would go on to get my Ph.D. and teach art history in college,” said Struthers, who has been introducing Sinclair Community College students to the world of art since 1987.

Currently a professor of art history, Struthers has also served as chair of the art department, dean of fine and performing arts, and dean of liberal arts, communication, and social sciences at Sinclair.

Her passion for the arts is something she hopes to pass along to her students.

“There’s a lot more to a class than just the facts,” she said. “I want to impart to them a love of learning and a love of other cultures—and a desire for them to find out more on their own.”

Struthers also encourages her students to travel. A first-generation college student, Struthers had limited travel experience when she entered Wright State.

A Classics Club field trip to the Art Institute of Chicago for the Philip of Macedon exhibition was an eye-opening experience for Struthers. She also participated in the Department of Art and Art History’s expedition to New York City.

“It was my first trip to New York City,” she said. “Going into the Met and the Museum of Modern Art was just life changing. I really knew I wanted to be an art historian and work with cultural artifacts after that.”

Struthers’ love for photography was also born during her days at Wright State. Photography was a required course for art history majors, but Struthers was so intimidated by the technical elements of photography—including the chemicals used in film developing—that she waited until the final quarter of her senior year to take the course.

“I found out I really loved it and wished I would have taken it sooner,” she said. Photography has been a passion for Struthers ever since.

Ancient civilizations are one of her favorite subjects. “Ever since I was a small child, I loved Greek and Roman mythology,” she explained. “I love reading the stories of the gods and heroes.” This fascination led to Struthers’ second major at Wright State—classics.

After graduating from Wright State in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in art history and classics, Struthers earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in art history from The Ohio State University.

While studying for her doctorate, Struthers’ primary area of focus was the Italian Renaissance followed by the classical art of Greece and Rome and the Baroque period.

Struthers has visited Italy five times and Greece twice. “Every time I go, I shoot hundreds of photographs,” she said. “What I normally shoot are the temples that are related to Greek and Roman mythology, the architecture, and sometimes the sculpture. Nearly everything has some meaning or some myth behind it.”

Struthers prides herself on scouting around for the best possible vantage point. “If that means climbing 526 steps to get to the top of a dome of a cathedral so I can get aerial shots, I’ll climb it,” she explained.

It’s a strategy that can sometimes get her into trouble. “You’re not allowed to lie down on the floor of the Sistine Chapel. The guards will tell you to get back up, but that’s the best way to photograph the ceiling.”

Struthers travels with her husband, Ned Young, whom she met in English 111 on her first day of classes at Wright State, and their 14-year-old son, Anthony.

Her work has been showcased in more than 30 exhibitions in Ohio and Indiana, including 13 solo shows.

Her lifelong fascination with ancient cultures was rewarded with the ultimate dream job—serving as a guest curator for the Dayton Art Institute’s exhibition, The Roman World: Religions and Everyday Life, in 2007.

“That was probably the highlight of my career,” said Struthers. Some of her photographs of ancient Rome were included in the exhibition.

Over the years, Struthers has maintained a strong connection to Wright State. She served on the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Advisory Committee from 2001 to 2008. She received the University Honors Program’s Distinguished Alumna Award in 2003 and the Department of Art and Art History’s Distinguished Alumna Award in 2004.

“I’ve always sort of kept my foot over here, because I do love the place,” she said. “Wright State opened up a lot of doors for me.”