UW-Parkside News: Art exhibition space named Emile H. Mathis Gallery

Art exhibition space named Emile H. Mathis Gallery

Emile H. Mathis Gallery named at UW-Parkside.

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside has announced the naming of a campus art exhibition space the Emile H. Mathis Gallery. Honoring Racine businessman and art connoisseur Emile Mathis, the space, formerly the Regional Center Gallery, is located in the new Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities. The naming ceremony was held Tuesday, Feb. 28, the same evening as the ribbon-cutting for the new UW-Parkside Foundation Gallery.

During the ceremony, UW-Parkside Dean of Arts and Sciences Dr. Dean Yohnk said Mathis Gallery and Conservation Framing on Racine's Main St. was one of the first places he visited while deciding whether to join the UW-Parkside faculty, a visit that helped convince him to relocate here. UW-Parkside Foundation Board President Chris Lie talked about the good advice he received from Mathis about a family painting and called Mathis Gallery and Conservation Framing a solid anchor for downtown Racine.

Chancellor Debbie Ford said Mathis Gallery and Conservation Framing amounted to a "mini-UW-Parkside" having served as the university's art exhibition space when construction forced the closure of the Communication Arts Gallery. The university's Director of Development David A. Diaz who served as master of ceremonies for the evening said the Emile H. Mathis Gallery "preserves Emile's art legacy for generations of students and artists to enjoy."

Earlier in the evening, the new University of Wisconsin-Parkside Foundation Gallery opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The foundation's past president Dr. Joan Wilk, who was instrumental in securing support for the gallery naming, said she was excited by the gallery's mission. The Foundation Gallery serves as a space for UW-Parkside student art exhibitions and the work of cutting edge contemporary artists who are selected to exhibit there by UW-Parkside students.

Hours for all three galleries are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m., Thursdays noon to 8 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For a list of exhibitions, visit www.uwp.edu keyword art galleries on the UW-Parkside web site.
In the photo, Emile Mathis, left, speaks to Chancellor Debbie Ford, David Diaz, Chris Lie, and Dean Yohnk during the dedication ceremony for the gallery that now bears Mr. Mathis' name.

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Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 3/21/2012