President Charles J. Dougherty to Lead Campus Art Walk

Faculty, staff and graduate students are invited to join President Charles J. Dougherty for Spirit and Symbol: A Campus Tour of Religious Art, a campus art walk that he will host on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 3:30 p.m. on campus.

The art walk, which is the kickoff event for the Center for the Catholic Intellectual Tradition’s (CCIT) 2014-2015 Catholic Artistic Imagination series, will spotlight nine works of religious art throughout campus and focus on their rich histories and symbolism. Participants are asked to meet in front of the Bayer Learning Center to begin the tour.

“President Dougherty has done so much to enrich the appearance of our campus, including the addition of most of the works of art we will view during the tour,” said Dr. Darlene Weaver, director of the CCIT. “We’re delighted he will host this tour. It’s a terrific instance of his leadership in this regard.”

Selected works for the art walk tour will include:

  • Spiritan Triennial by Nick Perredo
  • Lourdes Grotto by the Rev. Vernon Gallagher, C.S.Sp.
  • Risen Christ by Sebastien Touret
  • Crucifix by Jose Pirkner
  • I Am Because We Are: a Celebration of Spiritans in Africa by Gerry Tonti
  • Caribbean Cross by Unknown Artist
  • Spiritus Vivus by Gerry Tonti
  • The Spirit of Duquesne by Kathleen Mulcahy and Ros Desmett
  • Elevate by Gerry Tonti.

“It is easy to pass these works day after day without pausing to appreciate their beauty or significance,” Weaver said. “Attendees will not only enjoy learning about the background and symbolism of each piece, they’ll come to a deeper understanding of our Catholic Spiritan identity and the role that public art plays in nurturing our community’s openness to the Spirit.”

The art walk will take place rain or shine. A reception will immediately follow in Room 613 of the Union to provide participants the opportunity for further conversation on the artwork and the tour.

Space is limited. RSVP to universityevents@duq.edu by Tuesday, Sept. 23.

For more information on upcoming events in the 2014-2015 Catholic Artistic Imagination series, visit www.duq.edu/cit.