Ouachita Stories

Donating several valuable works of art to Ouachita Baptist University, Dr. Loyde Hudson told students gathered for a Dec. 4 reception that he donated the pieces “because of you.”

“I wanted it to be where students could enjoy it,” he explained. “I wanted it to be on the walls where they could see it. I wanted it to be among young liberal arts students.” He encouraged the students to “enjoy it like I’ve enjoyed it for 50 years.”

The collection, which features works by renowned 19^th century American artist Thomas Moran and German-American artist Albert Bierstadt, is on display in the new Rosemary Gossett Adams Gallery on the Ouachita campus. In addition to Moran’s “Lookout Rock – Yosemite Valley” and two paintings by Bierstadt, the collection includes an etching by Moran’s son, Peter, and several pieces of sculpture by Chris Delabarto as well as other works.

Emphasizing that “these are top names in the field,” Dr. Hudson told the reception crowd, “I must give credit where credit is due.” He said his late wife, Arlene, collected the pieces over the years.

Dr. Scott Holsclaw, dean of Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts, noted that “this is an exciting time in the life of the newly named Rosemary Gossett Adams Department of Art and Design” which will be officially dedicated Thursday, Dec. 11, at 9:30 a.m.

“We are so thrilled at what these gifts will do for this department, what it will do to enhance the permanent collection we already have, what it will do to enrich the education of our students,” Dr. Holsclaw added.

“When you see a timeless piece of art like this one in front you, you realize people have enjoyed it for years,” he said as he stood beside the Thomas Moran painting. “Because it is so timeless, because it is a masterpiece, people will enjoy it for years to come. We thank you, Dr. Hudson, for your gift.”

Donnie Copeland, chair of the department of Art and Design, described the works in the gallery as “a feast for our eyes.”

“Dr. Hudson, I just want to say thank you so much for your gift,” he noted. “You’ve given us an opportunity I never imagined I would have to hang such great artwork. These students have the opportunity to stand where Thomas Moran stood and painted his pieces or Albert Bierstadt or Chris Delabarto. That is something you just can’t really get from a book. Thank you so much for that opportunity.”

Citing Dr. Hudson’s work as a noted surgeon and pioneer in the development of artificial heart surgery, Ouachita President Rex Horne said he is “a man who is marked by great intellect, great curiosity and great generosity.”

Describing Dr. Hudson’s donation as both “expensive” and “priceless,” Dr. Horne said, “Not only is he giving us what he and his wife enjoyed for decades and decades, but he has given us friendship, he has given us a part of himself. For that we will always be indebted.”

Dr. Hudson, who holds degrees from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, has been an innovator in the field of thoracic surgery. His expertise was sought by hospitals and universities where he led medical school programs for heart surgery. He taught, conducted research and developed surgical facilities and programs for such institutions as UAMS, the University of Houston, the University of Michigan, St. Louis University and Temple University. He served as a founding member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

For more information about Ouachita’s Dr. Loyde Hudson Collection, contact Dr. Scott Holsclaw at [email protected] or 870-245-5561.

 

By Trennis Henderson // Photos by Tyler Rosenthal