FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The University of Saint Francis invites the public to attend the President’s Art Gala and the Rick Cartwright Retrospective Exhibition.
The free President’s Art Gala will be Saturday, Sept. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Mimi and Ian Rolland Art and Visual Communication Center, 1014 Leesburg Road. The gala, presented by the university, President Dr. Lance Richey and Saint Francis Creative Arts, features live music, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Gallery Director Justin Johnson will share a gallery talk at 5:30 p.m., preceding the gala. The gala is sponsored by 3Rivers, Design Collaborative, and the Ron Dick Family.
The Rick Cartwright Retrospective Exhibition, running from Aug. 26 through Oct. 13, is the featured exhibit. Cartwright (1951-2023) was a member of the Saint Francis faculty from 1975 to 2017 and was the founding dean of the School of Creative Arts in 2004, serving in that role until his retirement in 2017. This exhibition will display works spanning five decades in a variety of media including drawing, painting, digital imaging and found object sculpture. This exhibition will describe not only Cartwright’s creative output but also his dedication to teaching. Cartwright earned a Master of Fine Art degree from Bowling Green State University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The exhibit is the largest ever of Cartwright’s work.
Rick Cartwright
Rick Cartwright art: Crossroads; David (After Michelangelo); The Artist’s Model
In addition, Saint Francis will hold a Sculpture Garden Dedication at 6 p.m. on Sept. 5 at the Rolland Center in the garden designed by Cartwright. This tribute will include a brief presentation inside the galleries and an outdoor musical performance in the garden space. The dedication is sponsored by the Ron Dick Family.
For more information on the gala, exhibition or dedication, contact Saint Francis Creative Arts Coordinator Molly McGowan at 260-399-8064 or mmcgowan@sf.edu.
Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The galleries are closed during Labor Day weekend.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 20 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. Approximately 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.