What kind of classes did Miami University of Ohio have for artists?
NEARING: They had a full range of art. It was my selection. As I said I took oil, which I ended up not liking at all, primarily because of the professor. He said, “You do it my way or youre going to flunk.” I took a design course, and I enjoyed that. I dont remember doing much except for the geology department. I used to have a lot of fun doing that. SARKETT: Where do you feel you really picked up a lot of art? In the art classes there or your anthropology stuff? NEARING: You always learn. If you want to learn, you learn. I would say my fruition in art came here. I still take classes, but I went to MCC [Mesa Community College] and I took classes there. A lot of it I did on my own. How I really got involved in what I am doing now is through a contractor by the name of Doug Patton of Patton Construction. He was restoring the old Hackett House in downtown Tempe. I was a member of the First Congregational Church as he was. He told me to go down to see it. So I did, and it was all rubble ar
