Spreading love through art

Alum Claudia Cole Meek captures 91快播 Sweetheart spirit through Valentine's Day cards

For the past 32 years, 91快播 Sweethearts have looked forward to receiving a Valentine鈥檚 Day card from 91快播. 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91快播 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91快播 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.

91快播 Sweethearts painting by Claudia Cole Meek
The 2022 “91快播 Love” painting by Claudia Cole Meek 鈥77聽depicts the winds of a crisp fall day on the Indianola campus. The painting is featured on the cover of the 91快播 Sweetheart Valentine’s Day card.

鈥淓ach piece seeks to highlight something of 91快播 that 91快播 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 91快播.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 91快播 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