Influence at Concordia College

Figure 2: Cyrus Running in class.

Portait Bust of Cyrus M. Running created by Paul J. Nesse. Currently on view in the Gallery located in Olin. 

Cyrus Running’s lasting influence as a professor at Concordia is probably one of his strongest contributions to the college. In 1940 he began as the sole professor in Concordia's Art Department. He served as the chairman from 1940 to 1970. (6) Many of his students went on to be well known and influential artists, including Charles Beck and David Hetland. Running’s own artistic style ended up influencing his students, because elements of his style can be observed in the human figures of works made by his students, like Charles Beck. (7) His students had high opinions of their teacher and described him as: selfless, dedicated, and devoted. When asked to describe himself as a teacher of the arts, Running described his idea:

Basically I’ve always had the things an art teacher needs with which to do his best work. They are the freedom to design courses of instruction along many desired lines and the talented students who make teaching so rewarding. Although many of them become successful teachers and professionals, this is not our chief aim. We want to turn out complete people. If I could convey only one idea to a student, I would have him realize that in art, as in most other things, you never arrive at anything rather it is a constant exploration. Once a work is done you can’t be very interested in it because you’re moving on to something else. (8)

Figure 3: Cyrus Running performing, "I Hate Music."

The passion expressed by Cyrus Running did not just live in his work as a professor and artist. Running stayed busy throughout his life and expressed the same passion for those activities as he did for his art and teaching. He directed choirs, painted signs and houses, and he even had his own piano skit titled, "I Hate Music," which he performed publicly. (9) His work on the Concordia Christmas Concert with his next door neighbor, Dr. Paul Christiansen, was likely the most lasting of all of this extra work he did. (10) Running created the murals for each concert during his time at Concordia from 1940 to 1970. (11) He developed techniques for his students to help him work on it. His student David Hetland later went on to create the Christmas Concert murals after him.