Valparaiso University's 150th Anniversary

Fall 2008 - Spring 2009

150th Celebration Art Exhibits

The Brauer Museum of Art presents a full schedule of exhibitions and accompanying events.  Works on display in the various exhibitions are drawn from public and private collections, as well as the Brauer's permanent collection of approximately 3000 pieces.

August 19 – November 21, 2008
Domestic Vision:  Twenty-Five Years of the Art of Joel Sheesley 

Encounters/Encuentros:  Tradition and Innovation in the Art of Spain and Latin America -- Works by Hispanic Artists from the Brauer Museum of Art’s Permanent Collection

December 13, 2008 – March 22, 2009
The Christopher Railroad China Collection:  The Art of Dining on Rails

Recollections of Valparaiso's Kissing Bridge

Photographs by Andy Warhol from the Brauer Museum of Art’s Permanent  Collection

August 19 – November 21, 2008
Domestic Vision:  Twenty-Five Years of the Art of Joel Sheesley 
  Curated by Gregg Hertzlieb and Gloria Ruff

Encounters/Encuentros:  Tradition and Innovation in the Art of Spain and Latin America -- Works by Hispanic Artists from the Brauer Museum of Art’s Permanent Collection
  Curated by Gloria Ruff and Rachel Rivers Parroquin

• Opening Reception  -- Fri., Sept. 5, 7pm (BMA)
• Gallery Talk with Artist Joel Sheesley  -- Wed., Sept. 24, 7pm (BMA)
• Miguel-Pueyo -- Wed., Oct. 1, 7pm (for Hispanic art show, BMA)
• Teacher Workshop -- Tues., Oct. 7, 9-11am (BMA)
• Student Coffee Hour with Artist Joel Sheesley  -- Wed., Nov. 5, 7pm (BMA)
• Student Coffee Hour – Student Poetry Reading -- Wed., Dec. 3, 7pm (BMA)

Joel Sheesley is a noted midwestern realist painter and Professor of 
Art at Wheaton College.  More than thirty of his paintings appear in 
this exhibition, chronicling his exploration during the last twenty-
five years of the theme of domesticity.  A fully illustrated book, 
published by Lutheran University Press, accompanies the exhibition 
and is available at booksellers internationally.  This book will also 
be available for purchase at the exhibition's opening reception, 
where the artist will sign copies.  Additionally, works by Hispanic 
artists from the Brauer's permanent collection will be on display in 
celebration of Hispanic Heritage month.

These exhibitions were made possible by funds provided by the Brauer Museum of Art’s Sloan     Endowment, the Brauer Museum of Art’s Robert and Caroline Collings Endowment, Partners for    the Brauer Museum of Art, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Wheaton College Aldeen     Fund, and the Valparaiso University Cultural Arts Committee.

Joel Sheesley is represented by Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan.

December 13, 2008 – March 22, 2009
The Christopher Railroad China Collection:  The Art of Dining on Rails
 Curated by Collector Jay Christopher and Collection Curators Erika Lusthoff and Daniel  Smaczny
Recollections of Valparaiso's Kissing Bridge
Photographs by Andy Warhol from the Brauer Museum of Art’s Permanent  Collection

• Opening Reception  -- Sat., Dec. 13, 2pm (BMA)
• Teacher Workshop -- Tues., Jan. 13, 9-11am (BMA)
• Student Coffee Hour with Collector Jay Christopher -- Wed., Jan. 14, 7pm (BMA)
• Gallery Talk with Railroad Historian Charles G. Kratz, Jr.  -- Wed., Jan. 28, 7pm (BMA)
• Student Coffee Hour with VU Photography Professor Aimee Tomasek -- Wed., Feb. 4,  7pm (BMA)
• Lecture with Railroad China Expert Richard Luckin -- Wed., Feb. 18, 7pm (Duesenberg  Recital Hall)
• Family Day for the Railroad Exhibition  -- Sat., Feb. 21, 2pm (BMA)

This exhibition will offer a unique look at the visual culture of 
railroads through rare and valuable dining car china pieces and other 
vintage artifacts from the collection of Jay Christopher.   The 
exhibition's featured speaker, Richard Luckin, a world expert on 
historic railroad dining car china, will give a lecture in Duesenberg 
Recital Hall in the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts.  The 
museum's Education Room will feature historic train films, as well as 
black and white train photographs from Christopher's collection by 
Valparaiso photographer Harold Gast (1914-2000).  The exhibition is 
accompanied by a free illustrated brochure and an illustrated 
catalogue, which will be available for purchase at the museum.
The Kissing Bridge exhibition will be composed of vintage postcards 
of the Kissing Bridge from Jay Christopher's collection and artifacts 
from the VU Archives.  The show will also have on display text panels 
containing stories from VU alumni that reflect their fond memories of 
the bridge when it spanned a railroad line and was the place where 
couples so often kissed each other goodbye before one of them 
departed on the train.

the Brauer Museum will display in Gallery 1212 a selection 
of photographs by Andy Warhol from the museum's permanent 
collection.  The museum recently received a major donation of 150 
Polaroids and black and white prints from the Andy Warhol Foundation, 
specifically a division of the Foundation known as the Andy Warhol 
Photographic Legacy Program.  The Program recently donated groupings 
of Warhol photographs to qualified and deserving university museums 
and galleries, of which the Brauer Museum is one.

Historic train films will be shown in the education room while black and white train photographs (from Christopher's collection) by Valparaiso photographer Harold Gast (1914-2000) will be on display.

These exhibitions were made possible by funds provided by the Brauer 
Museum of Art’s Robert and Caroline Collings Endowment, Partners for 
the Brauer Museum of Art, and Jay and Doris Christopher.