Last Thursday I went with my husband to the Art Institute of Chicago to see “Georgia O’Keeffe: ‘My New Yorks’.” He had already seen the exhibition, but it was the first time for me. I was excited to see this show as I am not that familiar with O’Keeffe’s paintings of New York. It showed how the New York paintings fit in with other works done in the 1920s and early 1930s, including a selection of works she painted in New Mexico.
One painting from New Mexico, done in 1929 or 1930, reminded me so much of O’Keeffe’s “Rust Red Hills” (1930) that used to hang in the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University, where I served as registrar and associate curator for 25 years. “Rust Red Hills” has been part of the permanent collection there since 1962.
Though the exhibition was beautifully curated, and the written statements were so helpful in putting the works in the context of O’Keeffe’s career, I left feeling incredibly sad. I saw so many people enjoying that wonderful exhibition. I am guessing people came from all over the country (and overseas) to see works by this extraordinary American artist, America’s best-known woman artist.
I was sad and have been sad for quite some time because of the possible sale of the Brauer Museum of Art’s O’Keeffe, along with two other prized paintings from the permanent collection. I am sad because, on June 21, 2024, senior administrators announced to the campus community that Valparaiso University was closing the Brauer Museum for the summer.
There was no mention in the announcement that the University had terminated its exceptionally fine director, Jonathan Canning, which also makes me very sad. And there was no effort to communicate this news to the wider community. According to the trust agreement through which Percy Sloan’s collection came to Valparaiso University in 1958, a donation that gave birth to the museum named for its first director, Richard Brauer, the works were to be accessible to the public for their enjoyment. So far, the Brauer Museum has not been reopened.
As a community, we should be so proud that we have a Georgia O’Keeffe painting in our city. It distinguishes us from so many other towns and cities in Indiana. Valparaiso is becoming a city that welcomes the arts, where the arts are important. The Porter County Museum is a prominent art venue downtown, and the Art Barn in rural Porter County continues to thrive. New murals will soon be gracing the walls of buildings downtown. Even the utility boxes have been painted in such different and wonderful ways through the efforts of Valparaiso’s Art Advisory Committee. It is a shame that the connection between Valparaiso University and Valparaiso seems to be deteriorating. The Brauer Museum should be part of all the fabulous arts events happening in this fine city. Instead, the community is losing a wonderful resource. I hope something can be done to get the Brauer Museum back open again.
Gloria Ruff is the former registrar and associate curator for the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University.
