Great granddaughter of famous artist to perform during GVSU celebration

Grand Valley owns the largest known single public collection of art work and papers by artist Mathias J. Alten. During a special musical event celebrating Alten’s life and works, his great granddaughter, Linda Boozer-Vasilaki, will perform using his more than 100-year-old violin while surrounded by his art.

“Alten Afternoon: A Musical Celebration of Mathias J. Alten” will take place on July 29 in the George and Barbara Gordon Gallery, located in Building E of the DeVos Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. A reception will begin at 3:30 p.m. with the formal music program beginning at 4 p.m.

“As a child, I found the violin in my grandparent’s attic, and my grandfather strung it up for me. I learned on it, as did our children,” said Boozer-Vasilaki. “I dearly wanted to use his violin for this event, and this will be the first time I’ve played it professionally in a concert.”

The celebration will include musical performances by Boozer-Vasilaki, Yuri Vasilaki, Patrick Foley, David DeVos, Dave Martin, Penelope Meitz, William Patterson, Brendan Hollins and Dale Schriemer, professor of voice and Grand Valley Opera Theatre director. “Alten Skies,” an Alten-inspired composition by Ric Troll, will also be performed.

Boozer-Vasilaki currently lives in Florida, where she teaches violin and viola, and directs a string orchestra at the Out-of-Door Academy located in Sarasota. She said it will be a joy to have the Alten family, Alten’s art, and music enthusiasts together to honor her great grandfather.

“I am grateful to Mathias for the many opportunities he has provided to me and my family,” she said. “His paintings have financed many music and dance lessons, and without his violin, I might have missed the early exposure so necessary to a musician.”

A native of Germany, Alten immigrated to Grand Rapids as a teenager. Often referred to as the "Dean of Michigan Painters," Alten spent his career painting in Europe and across the U.S., but always returned to Grand Rapids, his professional base of operations and home until his death in 1938.

The Art Gallery department at Grand Valley recently created and published the book, "Mathias J. Alten: An Evolving Legacy.” The hard cover monograph includes color illustrations and scholarly essays exploring Alten's artistic legacy. The book is available for purchase at both Grand Valley Laker Stores on the Allendale and Pew Grand Rapids campuses.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Galleries and Collections at (616) 331-2563 or [email protected].