About the MacMillan Hall Building

Named in honor of Miami University's first Medical Director, Wade MacMillan in 1948. This building served as the university hospital until the construction of the new Health Services Center in 1999. 

Rains for the Harvest--MacMillan Hall Entrance

This 6’ x 26” x 7 1/2” cast bronze piece is by Native American artist Tammy Garcia. It is from a 2001 edition of 8.

The imagery depicted on this piece is a representation of how the physical world of the pueblo peoples is tied to the spiritual world.

One side is adorned with some of the elements of nature, which help in the development of corn, which is the staple of my people. We are dependent upon the Great Creator for rain to help grow our crops. In the middle of this side are ribs, which represent rain. The ribs are surrounded by imagery traditional to my tribe; clouds, lightning and water. I have also depicted the stages of corn from seedlings to ripe ready for harvest.

On the sides of the piece is a stepped relief, which represents steps to and from the kiva. In a sense it may represent the steps an individual may take between the physical world and spiritual world. The kiva is a place where we can learn of the relationships between two worlds and how they intertwine to become one.

The other side depicts a woman in ceremonial vesture prepared to participate in the corn dance which gives thanks to the Great Creator for the harvest. She is adorned in her beautiful hand embroidered dress and crowned with a headdress referred to as a tablita. In each hand she is holding evergreens which represent eternal life.

Tammy Garcia, Artist Biography:

Born August 27, 1969, Tammy Garcia is a descendent of the renowned Tafoya family of Santa Clara Pueblo, a family of strong and distinguished pueblo potters. Tammy learned her art from her mother (Linda Cain) and her grandmother (Mary Cain).

In 1991 Tammy was invited to exhibit with Gallery 10 of Santa Fe and Scottsdale, Arizona, who, at the time represented the major innovators in contemporary Native ceramic art of the last century. She exhibited with Gallery10 until April, 1998. In April, 1998 Tammy began exhibiting with Blue Rain Gallery of Taos, New Mexico where she currently exhibits her work.

Tammy Garcia has garnered the respect and accolades of many museums and private collectors throughout the country. Tammy’s original ceramic art has been sold out since 1991.

Currently Tammy has been experimenting with bronze sculpture, which has been well received.