GVSU art collection expands in new Fall Arts Celebration exhibit

Thirty-five works of art are joining the Grand Valley State University collection as part of this year’s Fall Arts Celebration. The “Shared Passion: A Gift of the Stuart & Barbara Padnos Foundation Collection” exhibit is being showcased in the Art Gallery of the Performing Arts Center through October 31 on the Allendale Campus.  

Throughout their marriage, businessman and philanthropist, Stuart Padnos, and his wife, Barbara, accumulated a significant collection of art — ranging from sculptures and paintings to works on paper.

“The collection served as an overview of both European and American art of the twentieth century and as a legacy to the couple’s evolving artistic, aesthetic and wide range of interests,” said Henry Matthews, director of Galleries and Collections at Grand Valley. “The couple’s shared passion for collecting artwork joined notable international names such as Marc Chagall, Raoul Dufy, Joan Miro, and Paul Emile Pissarro with American regionalist artists Thomas Hart Benton, Childe Hassam, Grandma Moses and Mathias Alten.”

The Stuart and Barbara Padnos Foundation donated a significant portion of the couple’s art collection to Grand Valley in 2013. Previously, in memory of his wife’s adventurous and diverse spirit, Stuart Padnos established the Barbara H. Padnos International Scholarship for Grand Valley students. In 2005, Stuart established the Stuart and Barbara Padnos Chair in Art and Design to promote the teaching of art at Grand Valley, and the exhibition space in the Calder Art Center was named to honor the couple’s generosity and commitment to the arts.

After the conclusion of the exhibition, all works will be distributed throughout Zumberge Hall on the Allendale Campus for public display with several of the sculptures being permanently exhibited on the building’s grounds.

“We are very grateful to the Padnos family for choosing Grand Valley as a worthy final depository and guardian of this distinguished collection of art work,” said Matthews. “Specifically, we wish to thank both Doug and Jeff Padnos, who have worked directly with the university with regard to all aspects of this gift.”

Matthews also said this gift was made, in part, because these works of art will be made readily accessible to students, faculty, staff and the general public, and because of the university’s commitment to ensuring that future generations at Grand Valley will continue to have the pleasure of enjoying and studying these works of art.

Grand Valley’s entire art collection currently stands at more than 12,000 pieces spread throughout seven campuses and are exhibited in the public areas of more than 120 buildings.

Opening Reception
Tuesday, September 30, 5-7 p.m.
Art Gallery, Performing Arts Center, Allendale Campus
*Exhibit open through October 31, 2014

Art Gallery Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Thursday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Admission
Free and open to the public

Since its start in 2003, Fall Arts Celebration has featured some of the preeminent writers, poets, musicians, dancers, artists and scholars of today. The tradition continues in 2014 with six signature events that aim to broaden horizons, help make sense of the new and unfamiliar, reflect on the past and charm with the classics.

All Fall Arts Celebration events are open to the public with free admission. For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/fallarts, or call (616) 331-2185.

For more information about the “Shared Passions” exhibit, visit sharedpassion.gvsuartgallery.org.