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From Aug. 18–Sept. 23, the UT Permanent Collection: 40th Anniversary Show will display highlights from the last 40 years of art-making at the University by notable alumni and current and former faculty. The exhibition will also highlight unique works by internationally and nationally renowned contemporary artists — including Judy Chicago, Salvador Dali, Audrey Flack, Sam Gilliam, Robert Rauschenberg and Miriam Shapiro — that were either created while on campus or donated to the University.

There will be an opening reception on Friday, Aug. 25, from 7–9 p.m., and light refreshments will be served.

To close the exhibition, on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 7–10 p.m., the gallery will host the inaugural Art on the Boulevard, a cocktail party with a silent auction. Each year at this event, the University will honor one of the gallery’s most valiant supporters. This year’s honoree is Joe Testa-Secca ’50, who was instrumental in the creation of the gallery at UT.

Tickets are $40 for one attendee and $100 for two. Each ticket includes an annual membership to the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery. The two-ticket package also includes a special-edition 2018 Friends of the Gallery print made by Chris Valle, chair of the Department of Art and Design. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

All Art on the Boulevard ticket sales and auction proceeds will support the gallery’s exhibitions and educational programming. Proceeds will also count toward the gallery’s 40th Anniversary Year Challenge Grant. A generous local donor has challenged the friends and patrons of the gallery to raise $15,000 by the end of 2017 and pledges to match all funds raised, dollar for dollar, up to $15,000.

“All that the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery does for UT students and the Tampa Bay community is made possible because of our loyal friends and supporters,” said Jocelyn Boigenzahn, gallery director. “Their generosity makes it possible for us to bring nationally and internationally recognized artists and their work here for our students to study and our community to explore. We are grateful to our anonymous donor for investing in the gallery in a way that encourages others to deepen their support.”

One of the sponsors for the Art on the Boulevard event is Fintech, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Best Business of the Year winner located in Tampa. Fintech facilitates electronic payment processing for retailers and distributors in the beverage alcohol business.

For more information, go to www.ut.edu/scarfonehartleygallery or contact Boigenzahn at (813) 253-6217 or jboigenzahn@ut.edu.

About the Honoree

Joe Testa-Secca was instrumental in the creation of the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery at UT, and his vision and drive helped shape the fine arts program at UT. A member of the UT class of 1950, Testa-Secca returned to UT for a 30-year tenure during which he rose to chair of the art department and finally chairman of the division of fine art.

Testa-Secca believed it was vital for the art department to have an exhibition space, which would serve as both a place for students to share and celebrate their work with the public and for students and the public to meet and experience the work of renowned national and international contemporary artists.

“Testa-Secca worked diligently with other members of the art department, such as Gil Demeza, Harold Nosti and Lew Harris, and with the support of architect Lee Scarfone, Douglas and Maureen Cohn and many other donors this vision became a reality,” said Boigenzahn.