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Gonzaga University’s “Jesuits and the Arts” series will continue with two upcoming exhibitions at the Jundt Art Museum.
The exhibits, opening Sept. 26 in the Jundt and Arcade galleries, respectively are “Vivid in My Mind: The Visionary and Landscape Images of Father Andrew William Vachon, S.J.,” and “Befriending Sacredness: Works by Father Arturo Araujo, S.J.” The exhibitions will continue until Dec. 19.
According to an announcement from Gonzaga, The “Jesuits & the Arts” series, a multiyear sequence of programs at Gonzaga, places the arts at the center of Jesuit education while celebrating the role they play in the ongoing, dynamic mission of the Society of Jesus in the world.
“Vivid in My Mind: The Visionary and Landscape Images of Father Andrew William Vachon, S.J.” presents 70 paintings and drawings created over four decades by the Jesuit priest and artist. He became the Gonzaga’s official artist and photographer-in-residence until his death June 1, 1979 at Gonzaga’s Jesuit House. Vachon’s art combines a personal, visionary aesthetic with intellectual interpretations of nature, philosophy, and theology. His paintings and drawings, rooted in observations from life or deriving from his Jesuit training, emerge from an intrinsic personal inspiration that divulges itself in his creative actions and processes, according to Gonzaga.
“Befriending Sacredness: Works by Fr. Araujo, S.J.” features recent work fashioned by a contemporary priest-artist. Born in Barranquilla, Colombia in 1967, Araujo became a Jesuit in 1986 and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1999. Araujo teaches art at the University of San Francisco and works in his studio there where he combines etching, relief, and digital media. His prints express a contemporary spirituality.
A free public lecture by Araujo will begin at 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25 in the Jundt Auditorium followed by a reception for the exhibitions. A free workshop and demonstrations with Araujo will be held Sept. 23. For details on the workshop contact the Gonzaga fine arts department at (509) 313-6686.
The museum’s exhibitions are free and open to the public from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Saturday; closed Sundays and University holidays. For information call the Jundt Art Museum at (509) 313-6843 or visit the museum website. To schedule a tour call Karen Kaiser, curator of education, at (509) 313-6613.
Tracy Simmons is an award-winning journalist specializing in religion reporting and digital entrepreneurship. In her approximate 20 years on the religion beat, Simmons has tucked a notepad in her pocket and found some of her favorite stories aboard cargo ships in New Jersey, on a police chase in Albuquerque, in dusty Texas church bell towers, on the streets of New York and in tent cities in Haiti. Simmons has worked as a multimedia journalist for newspapers across New Mexico, Texas, Connecticut and Washington. She is the executive director of SpokaneFāVS.com, a digital journalism start-up covering religion news and commentary in Spokane, Washington. She also writes for The Spokesman-Review and national publications. She is a Scholarly Assistant Professor of Journalism at Washington State University.
