FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The University of Saint Francis will continue commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi with a “Light of Francis” art exhibition, a “Donuts in the Gallery” event and a screening of the historic 1950 film, “The Flowers of Saint Francis.”
Admission to the exhibition and all events are free and sponsored by 3Rivers.
The “Light of Francis” exhibition will run from Oct. 1 through Nov. 20 at the Mimi and Ian Rolland Art and Visual Communication Center, 1014 St. Francis Drive. The opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Donuts in the Gallery will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Rolland Center and the “Flowers of Saint Francis” film will be shown at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Rolland Center.
Highlights of the “Light of Francis” exhibition include a solo exhibition of paintings from Assisi, Italy, by renowned plein air artist Tom Keesee; paintings by Sister Mary Rufinia (from the collection of university sponsors, the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration), and cyanotypes using the waters of Mirror Lake by SF alumna Erin Patton-McFarren (BA ’99). There will be many more works devoted to the saint on display.
Featured art:
Ela Monsen (Norway, 1919-1978),Saint Francis Preaching to the Birds, textile with handmade dyes, donated to Saint Francis by alumna Hildegard Hofacker.
Tom Keesee, The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, oil on panel (April 5, 2022).
Randy Horst, Saint Francis Preaching to the Birds, mixed media.
Tom Keesee, Giotto’s Fresco of the Sermon of the Birds, oil on panel (March 31, 2022).
Aaron Minier, Saint Francis, ink on paper.
Donuts in the Gallery will include featured artists, activities for visitors, and a Polaroid workshop presented by local photographer John H.D. Wagner. Gallery Director Justin Johnson will be available for tours and questions during the event.
The film, “Flowers of Saint Francis,” was directed by Roberto Rossellini and co-written by Federico Fellini and illustrates the spirituality and humble teachings of St. Francis. Widely considered a masterpiece, it is one of only two films devoted to the saint that are included in the Vatican Archive.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on weekends. The gallery will be closed for campus fall break, Oct. 15-18. For more information, contact Gallery Director Justin Johnson at jljohnson@sf.edu.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Business and Leadership; Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Nursing; and Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 17 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 2,100 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.