Beginning in 2014, The Jesuit Dallas Museum set out to curate and attract exhibitions which enhance the mission of the Museum, increase the institution’s standing within the community, and engage with local artists. Explore past exhibitions that have been presented by the Jesuit Dallas Museum.
Carolyn Brown has been a major figure on the Dallas photography scene for a number of years. Besides her books, Ms. Brown is particularly known for her incredible exhibit at Fair Park’s Hall of State during the 2000 State Fair: “Sacred Spaces: Man and the Divine in Mexico, Central America and Southwestern United States.” Brown states, “Photography is at the very center of my being—if it’s not documenting faraway places and antiquities, its people, culture and human differences. One cannot escape our fascinating cultural makeup. For me, the importance of photography is that it documents time. The beauty of photography is that by looking at a photograph, one can immediately experience long-ago moments, even bits of the lives people lived thousands of years ago—where, how and who they worshiped, and where they walked, worked, lived and loved.” She has photographed extensively in Jordan, Egypt, Mexico, and many other places. Her work is in many corporate collections and museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Johannes Boekhoudt was born in 1966 in Willemstad, Curaçao and raised in Costa Rica. He now calls Texas home. The abstract expressionist launched his art career in New York. Since then, Boekhoudt has had exhibitions at museums in galleries throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States. Utilizing the canvas as a form of communication for social commentary, Johannes is continuously stirred by the world around him. He evaluates societal circumstances that he has experienced, some troubling or disturbing, some joyful or mysterious, and then interprets them through a series of large format paintings in oil, acrylic or mixed media on canvas.
In 2019, Boekhoudt created the series of canvases about the plight of children in war and the risk of other wars. Without a Face is a group of paintings that depict children from around the world who do not want to see any more atrocities. For the next Generation, we need to generate reflection on how to prevent this from happening again and again. Boekhoudt wants to raise awareness of the human right violations in war and create discussion of the personal devastation that it generates. Children deserve a better future. The self-taught artist has an exceptional ability to absorb and convey his feelings in his paintings. Boekhoudt considers himself a social activist artist. His paintings are social commentaries advocating change for good in the world.
The Jesuit Dallas Museum began in 1986 through the vision of President Clyde LeBlanc, S.J., and the generosity of Frank Ribelin’50, a core collection of primarily Native American art was established, and an inaugural collection was installed.
Jesuit has an extensive collection of Native American art including work by important artists, R.C. Gorman, Helen Hardin, Armond Lara, John Nieto, Amado Pena, Fritz Scholder, Ed Singer, Veloy Vigil, and C.J. Wells. The JDM collection also has Native American woven baskets and Native American Ceramics. The exhibition is as a tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans. The JDM Collection contains numerous works that depict imagery of Native Americans.
The Museum has several pieces by R.C. Gorman, one of the most famous American Indian artists, referred to as “the Picasso of American Indian Artists”. R. C. Gorman was a painter, printmaker, sculptor and ceramicist who studied art and literature at Northern Arizona University and received a scholarship from the Navajo Tribal Council to study art at Mexico City College. There, he was influenced by the art of Mexican artists Diego Rivera, as well as David Siqueiros and Rufino Tamayo (all represented in the JDM collection).Works in our collection portray Gorman’s signature subject, the Native American woman, epitomizing his archetypal image of women as strong and enduring, yet possessing a soft and peaceful nature. In addition to the women, elements such as blankets, pottery, corn, as well as other Navajo artifacts often complete the composition.
He was born in the Netherlands. Arie Van Selm has developed strong roots in Dallas, living and working both continents for over forty years. The artist’s forthright style is characterized by bold, vibrant colors and limited subject matter. He explores these subjects for many years, challenging himself to execute their dynamics in an ever intriguing, evolutionary manner. Arie was first influenced by his father Willem Witsen (1860-1923, a Dutch Impressionist. He was educated in Amsterdam and continued his studies in Europe. Journeys to the south of France, Zihuatanejo, Mexico and Kyoto, Japan particularly influenced his style. His work is found among international collections and he continues to work and exhibit in Dallas, New York, Amsterdam and Berlin. A common denominator of all of Aries’ art may lie in his temperamental, dynamic, yet also sensitive and sometimes slightly humoristic approach to our human reality. His work has been widely exhibited in America, Europe and South America and can be found in the possession of many of the most esteemed private and corporate collectors.
In 1825 Thomas Cole, renowned American artist and early environmentalist was angered by the destruction of the area’s beauty by development. He wrote, “ I cannot but express my sorrow that the beauty of such landscapes are quickly passing away – the ravages of the axe are daily increasing- the most noble scenes are made desolate and oftentimes with the wantonness and barbarism scarcely credible in a civilized nations.” Today our landscapes continue to change and disappear.
See the landscape and feel the beauty of the scene. Time stands still and we can enjoy the moment. The presented works show beauty through images and express the feelings of the artists depicting the beauty of nature and the need to preserve the landscape. The paintings show the relationship between the artist and the land. These artists paint beauty in different ways and allow us to share our emotions, and desires. They capture the landscapes of California, Louisiana, New Mexico, France, Spain, Italy and other places.
Stefen Lokos creates abstract landscapes using bold blocks of color with light and dark shades (such as the painting above). Perhaps Lokos was influenced by the famous French Impressionists who made landscape painting a means for a revolution in modern art and changed the tradition of painting landscapes. Plein air painting is about leaving the studio behind and experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape. The creation of transportable paint tubes and the box easel allowed artists the freedom to paint "en plein air."
The beauty of what Norman Lloyd sees and the joy of the moment serves as his inspiration (see two pieces below). His memories of the sunlit landscape of his native land of Australia are represented in the atmosphere and nature of his landscapes. Lloyd's love for France, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Morocco, inspired joyful land, sea and mountain scapes, in a style that evoked impressionism. Lloyd was a prolific painter who was able to paint fast, preferring textural oil and pastels.
Jean Messagier a French painter, sculptor, printmaker and poet adds a bit of satire and comedy by giving the title of “Nose” to the orange and yellowed hued mountain. He also was influenced by Impressionism.
William Higgins (seen below) paints with a bright palette and captures the atmospheric changes, and the rapid movement of sunlight on the landscape. The various shades of blue and white paint show the atmosphere and movement of the clouds.
During World War II, Peter Hurd worked for Life magazine as a war correspondent attached to the US Air Force. He created hundreds of "War Sketches" and experienced the disasters of war.
Hurd’s work is strongly associated with the people and landscapes of San Patricio, New Mexico, where he lived from the 1930s. He paints an evoking sunset in Sunset through Dusk. Hurd studied in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania under the noted illustrator N.C. Wyeth. Hurd later married the painter's eldest daughter, Henriette Wyeth, who also was an accomplished painter and sister of noted realist artist Andrew Wyeth.
Bob Stuth-Wade’71 paints a single Iris selecting a single image of beauty in a landscape.
Walter Chappell was an American photographer and poet, primarily known for his black and white photography of landscapes, and nature depicts a single flower.
Beauty is also reflected in the art of diverse cultures in the Chokwe mask and the Pre Columbian ceramics. Painters have been and continue to be inspired by nature.
Artists included in the exhibition are Walter Chappell, Alan Feltus, William Higgins, Peter Hurd, May Kugler, Norman Lloyd, Stefan Lokos, and Bob Stuth-Wade ’71.
The exhibition,Otis Dozier & Texas Artists featured the acquisition of six works on paper by noted Texas artist Otis Dozier. The works have been acquired through a gift from the Estate of Denni Washburn, the niece of Otis Dozier.
Otis Dozier (1904 -1987) was raised on a cotton farm between Forney and Mesquite, TX and developed a love for art and nature at a young age. His family moved to Dallas in 1920 and he received training from well-known instructor Vivian Aunspaugh. He graduated from Forest High School in 1925 and continued his art studies with Olin Travis and Tom Snell. His family also traveled throughout the American West and this inspired him in his works.
In addition to Otis Dozier, featured Texas artists included David Bates, JD. Miller, Michael Tole, and Bob Stuth - Wade’71. David Bates was a student of Otis Dozier and Bob Stuth-Wade was a student of Perry Brooks Nichols and also influenced by the Dallas Nine.
The exhibition brings together the work of artists who were part of the WPA program during the 1930’s – 1940’s. Artists included are: Will Barnet, Herbert Bayer, Marion Cunningham, Edward Hagedorn, Riva Helfond, Chet LaMore, Russell Limbach, Beatrice Mandelman, Georges Marinko, and Leonard Nelson.
As part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal during the Great Depression, the government-funded Federal Art Project (1935 -43) of the WPA(Works Progress Administration) hired as many as 10,000 artists to create murals, paintings, sculpture, graphic art, posters, photography, theatre scenic design, and arts and crafts. Many artists were commissioned to paint enormous murals on buildings to inspire people during a very difficult time. One of the main aims of the Project was to invoke familiar images that spoke of shared values and American progress, including technological wonders, fertile farmlands, small town life, and big city vibrancy. Additionally, the program hoped to foster the role of the arts in public life and to bring the artist closer to everyday, American life. The Federal Art Project also operated community art centers throughout the country where artists worked and educated others. Some of the 20th century's greatest visual artists were employed by the Project under the auspices of the WPA, before going on to create Abstract Expressionist artworks in the post-World War II era. Some of those artists were Thomas Hart Benton, Stuart Davis. Arshile Gorky, Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning.
"The Project was terribly important. It gave us enough to live on and we could paint what we wanted. It was terrific largely because of its director, Burgoyne Diller. I had to resign after a year because I was an alien, but even in that short time, I changed my attitude toward being an artist. Instead of doing odd jobs and painting on the side, I painted and did odd jobs on the side. My life was the same, but I had a different view of it. I gave up the idea of first making a fortune and then painting in my old age.”- Willem de Kooning
It was also a time of hardship. Artist, Chet LaMore stated “The sense of community generated by the Project enabled me to live and work in New York at a time when he most needed contact with other artists. He said that this was a unique period in the history of American art because, in spite of the contentions between abstractionists and realists (the old guard and the young innovators) all artists worked together in a non-competitive environment. As diverse and individual as they were, these artists nevertheless isolated themselves from, in his words, "dealers, decorators, and art critics." They were grateful, LaMore said, that the Project allowed them the autonomy necessary for the development of their individual directions.”
Laura Roosevelt, President Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt’s , great-granddaughter specializes in abstract mixed media painting. Laura Roosevelt’s passion for history has pioneered a new form of American art with her “Historic American Pop” series. These pieces incorporate iconic photographs with textured, abstract backgrounds, reshaping the experience of those moments frozen in time. The exhibit “Historic American Pop- A Collaborated Historical Perspective of Abstract Art and the Words of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt” featured Roosevelt’s art with famous quotes from Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt chosen by her sister Elizabeth Roosevelt Kelly and their late great-aunt Chandler Roosevelt Lindsley. Laura received her BA in Studio Art and Art History from Dennison University and her MA from NYU. Her pieces are in numerous private collections. Recent exhibitions include The Art of The Roosevelts: FDR Hyde Park NY, The Aspen Institute Coordinating Exhibition with Ken Burn’s symposium, Pearl Harbor: A Day That Will Live in Infamy, and Gensler Architecture: Abstract Pallets
Bill DeOre shared the Dallas Morning newsroom with author Mark McDonald, while both also served as volunteer coaches in youth sports. It follows then, that the “seasoned” duo would once again connect on a project related to … what else … sports history. Mark McDonald’s book Beyond The Big Shootout, takes a trip through that 1969 epic of a football game between the University of Arkansas and Texas, which was a heartbreaking 15-14 loss on national TV that was attended by President Richard Nixon and covered by newspapers from coast to coast. The exhibition included Bill’s illustrations from the book, as well as other works from the Jesuit Dallas Museum collection.
Italian artist and sculptor, Alex Corno’s exhibition, included sculpture and works on paper. Corno creates abstract forms using welded iron and stainless steel. After receiving his diploma in Sculpture from the Academy of Brera in Milan in 1982, he taught in the public schools of Milan for several years. numerous shows in both Italy and abroad. Alex Corno states that regarding his work that, “God is in the details.” All works included in the exhibition were on loan from Valley House
Alumni artist, Stuth-Wade exhibited landscape paintings, watercolors, and drawings: Proctor, Sulphur Springs, Fish Camp on the Colorado River, Big Bend. His self-directed art education began under his mentor, Dallas artist, Perry Nichols, when Bob was still at student at Jesuit Dallas. All works included in the exhibition were on loan from Valley House Gallery.
Award winning photographer, Gail has traveled the world photographing people and their diverse cultures. She is motivated to communicate visually and show people in their own environment. She captures their attitudes, expressions “Inspiration, for me, is being in the moment. As one of the few woman photographers of my era, I have worked professionally for 45 years, (24/7), and have learned that experience is the best teacher, and attention to detail sets me apart. I have been told my work looks effortless, and Michelangelo said it best, “If people knew how hard I have had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn’t seem wonderful at all.”
A graduate of the prestigious Rochester Institute of Technology, Gail spent more than 14 years with Gittings Portrait Studio in Dallas, TX where she learned to capture the extraordinary in ordinary people. Gail earned the degrees of Master of Photography in 1981 and Photographic Craftsman in 1996 from Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Gail Nogle is also the mother of Jesuit graduate, Harold B Nogle lll ’02.
As part of Jesuit’s 75th Anniversary celebration, The JDM celebrated the work of Alumni artist, David Collins ’84in conjunction with David Collins’ exhibition, Day Shift at Valley House Gallery. He earned a BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. He is a two-time recipient of the Yaddo Fellowship. His work has been featured in The New York Times and Dallas Art Newsand is in several private and corporate collections. All works included in the exhibition were on loan from Valley House Gallery.
Courage: Lewis & Clark, Wild Waterways & Wayfairings with works from the Jesuit Dallas Museum Collection
In 1804, with instructions from President Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out from St. Louis on their transcontinental journey of exploration. Dr. David Ranney is a landscape and wildlife photographer who grew up near the Lewis and Clark Trail on the Missouri River in Yankton, South Dakota. Dr. Ranney’s photography has taken him to 45 countries and all of the world’s continents. He is best known for images of our country’s historic western trails, including the Lewis and Clark, Oregon and Santa Fe. The exhibition featured photographs of the Expedition trail as well as works from the Jesuit Dallas Museum collection.
To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the school, two important alumni artists were featured.
Jared Moossy, an established photographer, worked in war torn and impoverished countries, and was Director of Photography on the HBO series Witness. He is an advocate for human rights. Moossy has used his art of photography and cinematography to capture human suffering in its purest form. He has risked his life, time and time again, to tell stories. He has traveled the world, and through his evocative images given voice to people who have been silenced.
Brooks Oliver’06 received his BFA from SMU and his MFA from Penn State. He was a Fellow at the internationally renowned Archie Bay Foundation in Helena, Montana. Recently he has been teaching with West Virginia University's Ceramics program in Jingdezhen, China.; Mr. Oliver was awarded the distinction of being named a 2017 Emerging Artist by the National Council of the Education of the Ceramic Arts. He is currently a lecturer in Ceramics at UNT College of Visual Arts & Design.
Walt Disney was known as an artistic visionary. This exclusive exhibition included more than 55 drawings, artwork and original cells, from such classic Disney animated films as Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Fantasia, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. All works included in the exhibition were on loan from a private collector.
A man with a truly global heritage, Johannes Boekhoudt is known internationally for his ability to transmit emotion and marry artistic talent with thoughtful commentary. A Dutch Caribbean Abstract Expressionist, social injustice imbuesJohannes Boekhoudt’s paintings. Johannes is continuously stirred by the world around him; he evaluates societal circumstances he has experienced—some troubling or disturbing, some joyful or mysterious. “I paint our current reality with true responsibility. I utilize the painting to denounce cases of domestic violence, human trafficking, human rights, youth rights, abandonment of the helpless (children and elderly), and irrational violence.” media on canvas. “I paint our current reality with true responsibility.”
The student’s art exhibition during the theater production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile was inspired by a selection of the Museum’s cubist works including Hommage to J.S. Bach, 1950-59, George Tesson, Composition with Figures, 1925, Gaston Tutin, and Vigil Veloy,Christo Para Nosotros.
The Jesuit Dallas Museum featured the acquisition of David Bates, Man with Gold Tooth, 1982. The work was acquired through gifts from the Kevin Schnurr Memorial fund, ArtQuest, Private donations and Museum funds. David Bates & Texas Artists features works courtesy of, Russell Tether Fine Art, private individuals and from the Museum’s Permanent Collection. In addition to Bates, featured artists include John Alexander, Otis Dozier, Robert Rauschenberg, and others.
God's presence carries a wide range of meaning and can be seen in several of the works of John Doyle, The Spirit’s House, R. C. Gorman, Carol’s Blanket, E. Vermeulen, The Hermit’s Last Confession, the landscapes of Daniel Kendrick and others.
Terry Center, 3rd Fl. This exhibition celebrated the 50th reunion of the class of 1965 and the exhibition offered participants an opportunity to share and uncover layers of identity, history, politics, and humor. Bill DeOre’s career spanned thirty-four years as artist, art director, and, editorial and sports cartoonist for The Dallas Morning News. His cartoon work was nationally syndicated. Bill is an old school illustrator – he uses pen, pencil and watercolor, and doesn’t work on the computer. Bill was raised in Dallas and received his Bachelors of Advertising in Art and Design from Texas Tech University. He was a member of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists. Bill’s awards include the Fischetti Award for outstanding cartoon on a national level, ten Katie Awards for outstanding cartoon in a five state region, Texas School Bell Award and the national Small Business. Today Bill works as a free-lance artist in Dallas, Texas.
One of the most noteworthy and powerful exhibits was the Ground Zero 360, a national, traveling 9/11 memorial exhibition featuring original photography, relics, and survivors’ stories.
This exhibition paid tribute to the victims of September 11th. Ground Zero 360 exhibit creators Nicola McClean, an Irish photojournalist, and Paul McCormack, former commanding officer of the 41st precinct of the New York City Police Department, conveyed the chaos, courage and emotions of September 11, 2001 through paintings, photographs, steel pieces from the World Trade center as well as artifacts on loan from the families of first-responders. More than 2,500 people visited the exhibition. Alex Motter ‘16 interviewed and produced three excellent articles for the Roundup on the exhibition and was invited to New York by the Ground Zero 360 group. History was brought to life for our students and this exhibition exemplified the mission of the Jesuit Dallas Museum to enhance the educational experience of students and the broader community through awareness, appreciation, and passion for art.
The purpose of this exhibition was to highlight the acquisition of the George Braque, Hommage to J.S. Bach and it coincided with the school’s production of the play Amadeus. The exhibition included a selection of works from the permanent collection, and student and faculty artwork. All works depicted the theme of music.
