An exhibition of art by holocaust survivor Samuel Bak represented a number of convergences apart from Wabash’s interdisciplinary study of the art itself. One such intersection caught Board of Trustees’ Chairman Steve Bowen ’68 by complete surprise.
It turns out that Dean of the College Gary Phillips’ personal scholarship is the study of the art and theology of Bak’s seven decades of drawings and paintings. He and his colleague, Danna Fewell, have co-authored two books on Bak’s work and have another one that will soon be released.
In working to bring an exhibition of Bak’s work to Wabash, Dean Phillips worked closely with Bernie Pucker, who owns the Pucker Gallery in Boston, which manages much of Bak’s art.
The interesting twist is that Bernie Pucker’s son, Michael, is partner
and friends with Steve Bowen at the Chicago law firm Latham and Watkins.
At last Sunday’s opening reception for "The Art of the Question: Paintings by Samuel Bak," Michael and Gigi Pucker surprised their friend when they donated to Wabash a magnificent painting by Bak in honor of Steve Bowen’s love of — and service to — Wabash.
"During my time at Latham, Steve has been a wonderful partner, a true friend, and an extraordinary mentor," said Michael Pucker. "I’ve come to understand and appreciate the very special place Wabash occupies in Steve’s heart and mind and soul. I also know how important it is to Steve to give back to the College as is evidenced by his commitment and devotion to sustaining and growing Wabash for generations to come.
"Gigi and I thought that tonight presents a unique opportunity to
acknowledge our gratitude and enormous admiration for Steve in the
context of an exhibition of Sam’s work coordinated by my father and Gary
Phillips at a place and in the community that Steve loves so much. For
us this defines a special moment when we can all enjoy the convergence
creativity, connection, and community. It is with humility and in the
spirit of great friendship that Gigi and I and our three girls donate a
work by Samuel Bak entitled Creation to Wabash College in Steve’s
honor."
It was a classic Wabash moment, to be sure. Just as Bak’s art brings together the academic disciplines of art, religion, political science, history, and rhetoric, the exhibition itself brought together friends, family, and faculty and administrators of three separate universities.
Following its five-week run, many of the 40 Bak paintings now hanging in the Eric Dean Gallery at Wabash will be exhibited at DePauw University’s Prindle Institute for Ethics and Phillips will take part in DePauw’s programs aligned with the exhibit. Next fall, Phillips and Fewell will lead discussions at Fewell’s home institution, Drew University, when "The Art of the Question" makes its final stop.
Read complete coverage of Samuel Bak's visit to Wabash.
Gallery owner Bernie Pucker is especially pleased to see Bak’s work so
beautifully presented at Wabash and that so many students at three
different schools will have the opportunity study it — not to mention
his pride in his son’s philanthropic tribute to Steve Bowen.
"To work together with people like Gary and Danna and to know that this show is accompanied by comments, ideas, and questions along virtually every painting that’s here means that these paintings will exist in the minds and hearts and spirits of all the students who see them," said Bernie Pucker. "And that’s a blessing. It’s a blessing for the work and for all of us."
The artist, who spent three days at Wabash in presentations and in classroom discussions, admitted he hadn’t seen so many of his paintings exhibited in one space. Bak summed up his emotions during Sunday’s opening by echoing the theme of convergence.
"In an artist’s creation, there are paintings that exist in his mind that do not exist physically," Bak said. "But once they exist physically, they’re not always truly existing because a painting that’s not being looked at does not exist. The painting that is kept somewhere in the closet or some other place does not exist. For the painting to exist, there needs to be other helpers. And this is my incredible privilege, my luck, that somebody like Bernie [Pucker] is making my paintings exist. It is my incredible luck that I have had people like Gary [Phillips] and Danna [Fewell] reach out to me; that by looking at these things and talking about them and bringing students and other people to them, gives them a life. So I cannot tell you how grateful I am for all of these things coming together."
In the photos: Top — Board Chair Steve Bowen is surprised to learn that his law partner and friend, Michael Pucker, donated a painting by Samuel Bak to Wabash in his honor. Middle Left — Michael Pucker says a few words about his friendship with Steve Bowen. Bottom right — President Pat White, artist Samuel Bak, Board Chair Steve Bowen, and Michael Pucker stand next to Creation, a painting by Bak which was donated to Wabash by Michael and Gigi Pucker in honor of Steve Bowen.