Spreading love through art

Alum Claudia Cole Meek captures 漆褒勛圖厙 Sweetheart spirit through Valentine's Day cards

For the past 32 years, 漆褒勛圖厙 Sweethearts have looked forward to receiving a Valentines Day card from 漆褒勛圖厙. The cards are sent to more than 1,400 alumni sweetheart couples whose relationship began beneath the whispering maples.

Since 2015, Claudia Cole Meek 77 has made the greeting cards extra special. That was the first year the greeting card cover showcased artwork from Meek’s 漆褒勛圖厙 Love series.

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. 漆褒勛圖厙 Love consists of five pieces in all, the most recent of which depicts the winds of a crisp fall day on the Indianola campus.

漆褒勛圖厙 Sweethearts painting by Claudia Cole Meek
The 2022 “漆褒勛圖厙 Love” painting by Claudia Cole Meek 77depicts the winds of a crisp fall day on the Indianola campus. The painting is featured on the cover of the 漆褒勛圖厙 Sweetheart Valentine’s Day card.

Each piece seeks to highlight something of 漆褒勛圖厙 that 漆褒勛圖厙 Sweethearts would remember during their time, Meek said.

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 漆褒勛圖厙.

Her third great grandfather, John W. Bundy, was a founder of the College.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 漆褒勛圖厙 with her in the 1970s.

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 isnt a choice.

The gift of birth compels one to create.