Exhibit to Mark the Opening of the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library

CINCINNATI–The University of Cincinnati (UC) Libraries present “Learned in Science, Explored in Art: An Exhibit of Paintings and Sculpture by Wolfgang Ritschel,” on display in the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library from Sept. 15 through Dec. 15, 2008.

The exhibit, comprising 35 paintings and 10 pieces of sculpture with medical or health themes, celebrates the opening of the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library, which is located in the midst of the new CARE/Crawley Building and the existing Medical Sciences Building.

The library is named for Donald Harrison, MD, UC senior vice president and provost for health affairs from 1986 to 2002.

“To mark the opening of this vibrant, new library, we knew we needed an event that would delight and inspire the first wave of library users and visitors,” says Victoria Montavon, PhD, dean and university librarian. “Fortunately for us, the remarkable talent and art of Wolfgang Ritschel immediately presented the perfect solution.”

The artwork in the exhibit embraces the medical areas of diagnosis, therapy, surgery, and research. It is based on respect for the patient, the health professional, and the researcher. With such pieces as “Dyslexia,” “When All Fades into Nothing,” and “The Horror of Toxic Dangers,” the exhibit does not shy away from unpleasant subjects. Themes of hope and life are also represented, however, with pieces such as “Ode to Life,” “The Conquest of Polio,” and “Healing.”

Wolfgang Ritschel, MD, PhD, is professor emeritus of pharmacokinetics and professor emeritus of pharmacology at UC. He is an accomplished artist having shown his work throughout the world with over 60 solo and 250 group art shows. Ritschel describes his painting style as “expressionism influenced by fauvism.”

“Learned in Sciences, Explored in Art” is free and open to the public from 7:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. The Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library is located at 231 Albert Sabin Way on the E-level of the Medical Sciences Building on the medical campus.

After being on display in the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library, the exhibit will travel to libraries throughout the United States for the next two years.