College gets more pieces from artist
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on July 17, 2007 1:45 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College has become one of the largest holders of artwork from Jacques Hnizdovsky, a painter and printmaker.
A recent gift of 26 pieces from collector Dr. Melvin Reuber was added to the college's existing collection.
Hnizdovsky studied art in Warsaw and Zagreb. Soon after moving to the United States in 1949, the Metropolitan Museum chose one of his woodcuts for a Purchase Award at the 1950 Minneapolis Institute of Art print exhibition. That led to his determination to become a full-time artist.
From 1950 until his death in 1985, Hnizdovsky produced more than 375 prints, primarily woodcuts and linocuts, as well as several fine etchings.
Permanent collections of his works can be found at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Cleveland Museum of Art, New York Public Library, Winnipeg Art Gallery in Canada, The White House, New Orleans Museum of Art and countless others. His woodcuts have been included in many group exhibitions including those of the Society of American Graphic Artists and several sponsored by the U.S. Information Agency in Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa.
Mount Olive College first obtained a collection of 41 pieces of Hnizdovsky's art in 1971 from alumnus Dr. E. Lee Glover, who first loaned it to the college and then gifted it for permanent exhibition in Moye Library.
The Hnizdovsky family later contributed 20 prints and, according to Gary Barefoot, curator of the FWB Historical Collection at MOC, the college purchased five or six other prints.
Glover and Reuber met Hnizdovsky in 1965 and struck up a friendship that continued over the years. The two still keep in touch with Hniz-dovsky's widow Stephanie, who now resides in Raleigh.
In recognition of the recent gift, the college is planning a major exhibition of Hniz-dovsky's work for the fall. An opening reception is scheduled for Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Teresa Pelt Grubbs Art Gallery in Laughinghouse Hall. The exhibition will run until October 26.
The gallery is open weekdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, contact Cheryl Hooks, chair of the department of arts and visual communications, at 658-2505.