Jerry Rudquist retired in 2000 after forty-two years of teaching painting and printmaking at Macalester. He worked as artist in residence at the College until his death last winter. An exhibition of his work is now on display at the college's art gallery.

Rudquist was instrumental in forming the architectural, intellectual and creative skeleton of the art department. He helped make the decision to incorporate professors' studios in the design of the department, thus ensuring that he could work alongside his students.

Colleagues and students recall his intensity as a painter, having seen him in action in his studio. An entire wall as his easel, he would swing back and forth across the canvas on a ladder, masterfully applying color and tone to his solid compositions.

Rudquist's compositional skill and superb use of color are apparent in the works of various media that are on display in this exhibit. The content of the works varies, but the repetition of the head or skull is recurring in many of the works shown. Great Skull (1996–1998) hangs prominently on the main wall in the entrance room of the gallery.

Rudquist creates an interesting tension between the stark image of the skull and his jocular use of color. Subtly incorporated into the piece is Rudquist's direct application of the color wheel to the almost-round contour of the teeth. The playful use of color and light compliment the hollowness of the form.

Skull and head forms are also used in his series entitled Must We Always Expect War. Rudquist used the colors of the flags of particular countries to which the titles of each piece refer. He began the series in 1956, but it was not complete until the 1990s. Pertinent and fascinating, these pieces are an intriguing representation of how the U.S. has handled war over Rudquist's extensive career.

Regarding another series entitled Warflower, Rudquist explained that "these drawings fuse rather than contrast, form qualities of flowers and the instruments and mechanisms of warfare to force the issue of the simultaneity of such polarities in our experience."

Any text would fail to encapsulate the intensity and quantity of these works, and thus all are urged to experience the work of Jerry Rudquist on their own.

The Gallery is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday; Thursday 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend the opening reception which will take place Saturday, Feb. 15th from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.