UB Alumnus Bringing American Artist Joseph Norman, Exhibition of Norman's Work to UB

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Nationally renowned American artist Joseph Norman and a selection of his works are making a return visit to the University at Buffalo this fall, thanks to the generosity of Rhode Island physician Joseph Chazan and his wife, Helene.

In addition to helping underwrite the cost of the Buffalo exhibition, the Chazans are expanding UB's Norman collection by donating additional lithographs to the University Art Galleries. These prints will add to the portfolio of Norman lithographs that they donated last August.

Chazan describes himself as a "loyal alumnus" and "very positive about the education he received at UB" as an undergraduate in pharmacy and in the medical school.

Sandra Haller Olsen, director of the University Art Galleries, said UB is fortunate to have a generous donor "so interested in sharing his collection with the students, faculty and Western New York audience.

"It is always important for art and art history students to have the opportunity to see artwork by contemporary American artists, and, even more important, to meet and speak with the artist."

Olsen said the Norman exhibition will open Sept. 14 in the university's Anderson Gallery on Martha Jackson Place with a reception from 6-8:30 p.m., and will run through Oct. 28. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. The exhibition, which includes more than 18 paintings, 11 drawings and 25 lithographs, is a return visit for the artist who staged a very successful show at UB in August 2000.

Norman will attend the opening reception and be involved in activities on campus on Sept. 13-15. In addition to meeting with students, he will conduct several workshops with children at Gateway-Longview Inc., a human service organization, which provides comprehensive care and treatment for children, youths and families.

Norman, previously affiliated with the Rhode Island School of Design, recently joined the faculty of the University of Georgia. His works are in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Corcoran Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, National Gallery of Art, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the museum at the Rhode Island School of Design.

In 1985, Chazan and his wife created an endowment for the Dr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Chazan Medical Scholarship Fund, which annually covers a year's tuition for an outstanding medical student, "who prior to admission was a resident of Western New York and in need of financial assistance." Chazan served as the national chair of UB's Annual Fund Drive in 1991-92.

A Western New York native who graduated from Bennett High School, Chazan earned his bachelor's degree in pharmacy in 1956 and his medical degree in 1960. Currently, he heads Nephrology Associates, is founder of the Rhode Island Dialysis Program, medical director of the Artificial Kidney Centers of Rhode Island and a clinical professor of medicine at Brown University.

Active in numerous professional and civic organizations, Chazan received a UB Distinguished Alumni Award in 2000 for his exceptional career accomplishments along with his community and university service.

The Chazans' gifts to the university gallery are part of UB's $250 million campaign, one of the largest ever conducted by a public university in New York and New England. Although it's the fifth major fund-raising campaign conducted by UB, it's the first national/international campaign, the first university-wide campaign and the first to be alumni-driven with campaign volunteer leaders from all over the country. Funds raised will be used to enrich academic programs, support students ranging from undergraduates to post-doctoral students and to enhance university life.

For information on how you can support the University at Buffalo, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/giving.