Art comes alive in Bay Area, Seattle, L.A.

Calvin art history professor Henry Luttikhuizen continues to impress alumni audiences from coast to coast with enlightening pre-exhibit lectures at art museums across the country.

Luttikhuizen has been the keynoter for alumni networks in Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Denver, Cleveland and Minneapolis—and he’s added three more cities to his roster of alumni art events.

At the de Young Museum in downtown San Francisco, Luttikhuizen spoke at the Golden Gate Christian Reformed Church to prepare alumni for viewing the national exhibit “Girl with the Pearl Earring,” a presentation of 30 paintings by artists of the Dutch Golden Age—including Rembrandt, Hals and Steen—from the collection of the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis.

Golden Gate pastor James Chen and alumnus Jeff Hoek ’82 and wife Rosie paved the way for the event to be enjoyed by an age-diverse group of graduates and friends.

“Henry was great in his lecture to the group and added a lot of insight into the exhibit. We were very impressed,” said Hoek.

From the Bay Area, Luttikhuizen traveled to Seattle where an exhibit titled “European Masters” was showing at the Seattle Art Museum. The work of Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Gainsborough and others was on display, and once again, Calvin’s most alumni-seen art historian gave a helpful pre-lecture.

“Henry is superb,” reported alumnus and local Calvin representative Ron Polinder ’68. “He interacts so nicely with those attending during the lecture time and after viewing the exhibit.”

Finally, the intrepid art traveler met with alumni and friends at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, Calif., to present on “Sensing the Sacred in Early Netherlandish Painting.” The guests in attendance viewed the museum’s permanent collection with Luttikhuizen prior to the lecture.

The alumni association is not through with its long-running partnership with Luttikhuizen. The “Girl with the Pearl Earring” exhibit moves this fall to Atlanta (September) and New York (November)—and the association hopes to work with network leaders to schedule alumni gatherings there as well.