O brother, here's art

Escape the hectic pace of the outside world with a visit to St. Gregory's University's art museum and abbey.

Drive a few miles outside of downtown Shawnee (near Oklahoma City), and the landscape quickly changes. Pastures replace buildings and parking lots, and just when you're used to the rural scenery, something unexpected catches your eye. A beautiful redbrick structure resembling an English castle rises from the plains, marking St. Gregory's University.

The Tudor Gothic architecture on campus is reason enough to drive through. But tours of the Mabee-- Gerrer Museum of Art and the Benedictine abbey will turn that quick stop into a pleasant afternoon visit.

The World in Shawnee

"The museum is a study in history and cultures from around the world," says director and chief curator Debby Williams. The collection includes artifacts from Greece, Rome, Thailand, China, and Egypt, plus artwork spanning the early Renaissance period through the early 20th century. Most of the pieces on display come from the art collection of Father Gregory Gerrer, a Benedictine monk at St. Gregory's who first established the museum in 1915.

In addition to his expansive knowledge of art history and restoration, Father Gregory was a skilled portrait artist. You'll find Pope Pius X, one of his most famous works, on display at the museum. (Incidentally, the Vatican requested it after its showing at the 1904 World's Fair. Father Gregory liked it so much that instead of sending the original, he painted a copy and promptly shipped it overseas.)

One of the most interesting finds on the tour is a case full of strange collectibles such as a block of melted tacks recovered from a Chicago hardware store after the fire of 1871. "Oddities like these show the depth of art objects that captured Father Gregory's curiosity," says Debby.

Your Abbey Invitation

The first things you notice on your tour are the stained-glass windows. "This one explains that public prayer should always be short but pure." The endearing tour guide, Father Augustine Horn, sneaks a wry smile as he points to a window depicting an excerpt from the Rule of St. Benedict. "So we try to observe that as often as we can." A member of the monastery since 1938, Father Augustine knows the abbey's every arch and pane. He deciphers the windows' scenes and symbols and shares the stories of St. Benedict, St. Gregory the Great, and the history of monks in Oklahoma, offering a peek into the Catholic and Benedictine traditions. "This window regards St. Benedict's rule of hospitality," he says. "We always welcome guests to the monastery. It's simply a natural rule we follow." TANNER C. LATHAM

St. Gregory's University: 1900 West MacArthur Drive, Shawnee, OK 74804; (405) 878-5100 or www. sgc. edu. Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art: (405) 878-5300 or www.mabeegerrer museum.org. St. Gregory's Abbey: (405) 878-5491 or www.monksok.org.

NEED A BITE?

Try lunch at the Bean & Berry Bistro. This cozy little coffeehouse makes great sandwiches. 2033 North Kickapoo, (405) 273-9691.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Mar 2003
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