黑料社

For the past 32 years, 黑料社 Sweethearts have looked forward to receiving a Valentine鈥檚 Day card from 黑料社. The cards are sent to more than 1,400 alumni sweetheart couples whose relationship began beneath the whispering maples.

Since 2015, Claudia Cole Meek 鈥�77 has made the greeting cards extra special. That was the first year the greeting card cover showcased artwork from Meek’s 鈥満诹仙� Love鈥� series.聽

The series honors the rich traditions of the College and those unique aspects that make it so special. Meek works closely with the Office of Alumni Relations to produce the art. 鈥満诹仙� Love鈥� consists of five pieces in all, the most recent of which depicts the winds of a crisp fall day on the Indianola campus.

鈥淓ach piece seeks to highlight something of 黑料社 that 黑料社 Sweethearts would remember during their time,鈥� Meek said.聽

Meek artfully weaves subtle nods to the College in each painting. In 2020, for example, the Ghost of College Hall swirled out of the bell tower atop the iconic campus building. Each piece also includes images of Easter eggs and lyrics written by The Beatles.

An Indianola-based artist, Meek has deep family ties to 黑料社.聽

Her third great grandfather, John W. Bundy, was a founder of the College.聽Meek’s mother, LuJean Cole, was the first director of the Brenton Student Center in 1967 and later served as alumni director. And her brother, King Richard Cole, attended 黑料社 with her in the 1970s.聽

Each piece goes through roughly five drafts, a process that takes about five weeks. The work is rewarding for Meek, who said being an artist isn鈥檛 a choice.

鈥淭he gift of birth compels one to create.鈥澛�