Expanded Gordon Gallery to reopen

A second floor expansion to the Grand Valley State University art gallery devoted to works by Mathias J. Alten will open to the public with a new exhibition.

“Mathias J. Alten (1871-1938), American Impressionist: Celebrating New Gifts and the George and Barbara Gordon Gallery Expansion,” opens Saturday, September 15, from 1-5 p.m. The gallery is located in Building E, DeVos Center, on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

Grand Valley holds the largest public Alten collection in the world, as well as his family’s archive collection of family photos and letters. The German-born artist immigrated to Grand Rapids and became known as the “Dean of Michigan Painters.” His rural and agrarian work themes continued throughout his career, as he traveled extensively and painted in both Europe and the U.S. His works have been exhibited widely at major American art institutions.

Grand Rapids collectors George and Barbara Gordon determined that their Alten paintings should be on permanent public display, made the lead gift to Grand Valley in 1999, and continue to build on that gift annually. The second floor gallery expansion was made possible through their generous support.

This outstanding exhibition includes nearly 40 pieces exhibited in the second floor gallery, which added 1,253 square-feet of exhibition space. Among these and the 36 paintings exhibited in the first floor gallery are 31 new paintings, future gifts of the George H. Gordon Trust. On display are oil paintings and watercolors of Grand Rapids cityscapes, coastal scenes in Spain, Dutch canal scenes, still life works and portraits, most notably a self-portrait and one of Alten’s daughter, Camelia.

“Together, the exhibition represents Alten’s full spectrum as an artist,” said Henry Matthews, Grand Valley director of Galleries and Collections. “The expansion not only allows space for the new paintings, but also more space for archival Alten materials from Grand Valley’s permanent collection.”

The gallery will be open to the public with free admission every Friday and Saturday, from 1-5 p.m. Closed on holidays. For more information please call 616-331-2563, or visit www.gvsu.edu/artgallery.