Art Exhibition Debut is a Hit with Campus, San Diego Community

The first full week is complete, including the first-ever weekend availability for viewers, and there is great appreciation by both the University of San Diego community and the community at-large for the "Christ: Life, Death and Resurrection" art exhibit at the Hoehn Family Galleries on the USD campus.

"Both opening events, VIP and public, were the highest attendance we've had for our gallery events," said a pleased Derrick Cartwright, director of the University Galleries and an associate professor in the Department of Art, Architecture + Art History, regarding the Sept. 12 program. "Traffic has also been steady throughout this week. Based on attendance from the first week, this show looks like it will break all previous records for visitation at a USD exhibition."

The exhibit, which showcases Italian Renaissance artists' drawings and prints — including one by Michelangelo — is from The British Museum's large collection. It is housed in the two-room gallery within USD’s Founders Hall. The exhibit is free to all and is open Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and 12-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The VIP and public pre-opening event on Sept. 12, which featured a talk by The British Museum's keeper of prints and drawings, Hugo Chapman, who curated USD's Christ: Life, Death and Resurrection exhibit, was a perfect introduction for new and existing San Diego art fans. Numerous USD faculty, staff and students have or will be visiting this special exhibit during its three-month residence that goes until Dec. 13.

Cartwright said he was present during the inaugural opening weekend and indicated there were more than 100 non-USD visitors in attendance to get an up-close look at the more than 30 Italian artists. Private groups can schedule a tour of the exhibit and Cartwright said that this weekend, his USD colleague John Murphy, will be guiding a private group tour for a Friends of the Vatican group visit.

University Galleries is also preparing for the month of October when several Gallery Talks featuring free USD faculty members take place on Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. The opening talk will be given by Susie Paulik Babka, PhD, an associate professor in USD's Theology and Religious Studies Department, on Oct. 3. For a complete list of talks and other special events associated with the exhibit, visit https://www.sandiego.edu/galleries/exhibitions/hoehn-family-galleries/

Furthermore, while the USD exhibit has more than 40 artworks available for viewing, it is worth noting that USD is collaborating with the Timken Museum of Art in San Diego, which exists within Balboa Park, to bring this artwork to San Diego. The Timken has a small fall exhibition collection called the Masterpieces of Italian Drawings from The British Museum that is connected. The Timken's exhibit runs until Dec. 15. Admission is free and its hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and then noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays.

— Ryan T. Blystone

Photo, above, by Barbara Ferguson