Karen Phan ’25
Guest Writer
On January 30th, the gallery welcomed over two hundred guests (record-breaking attendance!) for a special exhibition opening reception. Associate Professor Emeritus and artist Michael Beatty led an engaging walk-through of his exhibition, highlighting various artworks and aspects of his artistic and teaching career. Students, alumni (including Beatty’s former students), arts leaders from Boston and Worcester, and local art teachers from Worcester Public Schools alike gathered in admiration of Beatty’s craftsmanship. Moreover, faculty and staff colleagues shared heartfelt laughter and reminiscences with Michael about the years spent together. It was a night of art, friendship, and cherished memories.
Michael Beatty taught sculpture and three-dimensional design at Holy Cross for twenty-five years before retiring in 2023. His retrospective exhibition celebrating his sculptural practice investigates duality and hierarchy as a dialogue between technology-assisted and handmade forms. Beatty’s work, inclusive of prints and drawings, is informed by concepts and visual culture taken from science, nature, and mathematics. Beatty’s sculptures and drawings are evocative hybrids of geometry and biological form.
On the horizon, there will be more programming to accompany this show. On February 25 at 4:00 PM, there will be “Form, Structure, and Symmetry: Bach in the Gallery.” This immersive concert features selections from Bach’s iconic Cello Suites, performed by Pietro Romussi (Brooks Scholar ’27) and Julianna Stratton (’26), followed by a lively discussion on Bach, math, and symmetry between Professor Gareth Roberts (Mathematics) and artist Michael Beatty. On March 13 at 5:00 PM, there will be a faculty and artist roundtable where the artist and other Holy Cross faculty will explore connections in art, architecture, biology, and environmental studies.
Featured images courtesy of Troy B. Thompson and the Prior Performing Arts Center
Leave a Reply