Gannon University’s Schuster Program for the Arts and The Schuster Gallery opened a new exhibit Tuesday night.
“Works on Paper” will be on display at the gallery, located at 700 Peach St.
The exhibit showcases work from iconic artists such as Marc Chagall, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and others.
The opening pulled in a crowd of over 100 people.
Schuster scholars Alexis Grau, a sophomore nursing major, and Breanna Balcerak, a senior nursing major, agreed the exhibit was beautiful and unique.
The exhibit comes from the Gerald and Suzanne Marterer private collection.
Approximately 15 works will be on display at the gallery with extra hours included for this special event.
The Marterers began collecting these pieces 50 years ago.
“We decided we like antiques so we’d go to these antique places, flea markets in old barns,” said Marterer, a 1976 MBA graduate of Gannon.
“Over time, we started liking more and more modern things.”
This art exhibition is a world-class experience for Gannon and the whole Erie region.
Lori Steadman, director of the Schuster Gallery and instructor in the School of Communication and the Arts, was thrilled when she was presented the opportunity to host the exhibit.
“A former student was interested in bringing a collection to a university and our name happened to come up and he reached out to us,” Steadman said.
“It sounded like something we should make time and space for, and we did.”
Wednesday night, Gerald Marterer will present a talk “Impressionism in Paris” in the boardroom of Old Main.
There will be a book signing of his travel book “Paris 201- Uncommon Places in the City of Light” following the presentation.
Proceeds from the book sales support the Schuster Program for the Arts.
Before coming in contact with the pieces, Marterer worked for International Paper for 33 years.
Marterer then served in the executive leadership at International Paper including heading the company’s Industrial Papers and Quality groups and president of IP Asia; including four years in Hong Kong.
In 2002, he joined Arizona Chemical as president and CEO until his retirement in 2008.
Marterer remains on the Board of Arizona Chemical as chairman.
In 2015, Marterer published “Paris 201,” which guides travelers “around the City of Lights and explores Paris’ uncommon places first hand with the insight of a passionate American and his family who have made Paris their much-loved second home.”
The Marterers divide their time between Charleston, S.C., and Paris.
The exhibit will remain on display until Oct. 10.
OLIVIA HAHNER
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