St. Edward’s University, a small liberal arts institution of about 4,450 students, houses this intimate gallery tucked away in the same building as the art, graphic design, theater, and photography classes. This central location provides the added attraction of allowing visitors to wander through the halls and glimpse students working in painting, drawing, ceramics and sculpture studios, or view the artwork that lines the hallway adjacent to the gallery. The university is located on several hundred acres atop one of the city’s highest peaks, affording campus visitors commanding views of the downtown skyline. The pastoral setting of the campus, with its lovely old buildings, some dating back to the late 1800s, is another attraction for visitors to the gallery.

The Fine Arts Exhibit program has existed on the campus since1968, although for many years the exhibits were held in the atrium of Moody Hall. In the late 1960s former exhibit program Director Brother Hilarion Brezik, CSC, brought the first abstract expressionist painters from the New York School to St. Edward’s. He exhibited them in the original gallery, which was located in the middle of campus, where students liked to hang out. Current exhibit Director and Associate Professor of Art Stan Irvin recalls, “Everybody on campus saw those exhibits whether they intended to or not.” He added that even though the current gallery is not as large as the former atrium gallery, its location makes it more convenient for both on-campus and off-campus visitors, with ample parking near the building.

Since the gallery is used also as a teaching tool, it is not unusual for outside artists to conduct workshops or present talks about their art. “We’ve been fortunate over the years to have many well-respected artists in the area share their talents and insights with our students. Most artists are unbelievably generous. There have been numerous artists from the central Texas area who are also teachers in other university art programs in the area,” said Irvin. “As a teacher, I am always interested to hear how they balance their careers as artists with their teaching responsibilities. For most, their artistic production is what inspires, authenticates, and informs their teaching.”

In more recent years, students have become more involved in the installation of gallery exhibits through a course in exhibition techniques. This hands-on course enables students to learn essential exhibition design skills, produce exhibition graphics, design exhibit invitations, and produce a mailing list, while developing their own slide portfolio, artist’s resume, bio, and artist statement. All of this is intended to help students who are pursuing careers as artists or art professionals. In addition to rotating exhibits of local and national artists in all mediums, the gallery also hosts periodic student and faculty exhibits.

The gallery is located at 3001 South Congress Avenue. Visitors should enter through the main campus entrance (just north of Woodward Street) and park in the first lot on the left. The gallery is in the Fine Arts Center just east of the parking lot. Visit http://www.stedwards.edu/market/calendar/events/ for current shows and times, or call Stan Irvin (stanleyi@admin.stedwards.edu) at 512-448-8685 for more information.

Article and photo courtesy of Stan Irvin, Director, Fine Arts Exhibit Program and Associate Professor of Art, St. Edward’s University, Austin, Texas.