A dedication decades in the making

On April 10, Green Bay’s Southwest High School hosted an opening reception and dedication for the new permanent Patrick O’Brien Art Gallery, named after the school’s former art teacher.

The gallery currently features artwork from three of O’Brien’s former students; Aaron Renier, Mark Dix, and Jonah Osgood.

The goal for the gallery was to find a better way to display student art, as the current art department is in the back of the school building and it’s difficult for the public to see the displayed work. To combat this, the gallery is located on the balcony that leans over the commons area.

“The student work has been outstanding in my t29 years, really impressive, really raised the standard and students have gone on to several professions in art and design, but it had always been difficult to get it (student work) exhibited (because of the location of the art department),” said Jon Taft, the current art and design department chairman and art instructor at Southwest High School.

Before Patrick O’Brien, known as “OB” to his students, family and friends left the school in 1997, he left Taft with a blueprint for a more accessible art gallery, feeling it would be a positive thing for the school.

Unfortunately, over Taft’s years at the school, the lack of funding and support left the vision for the galley unfinished, until Mike Whisler was hired as the new principal.

“I knew he was a strong supporter of the arts… and I pitched this gallery idea…” said Taft. “He brought it up to the administration, and showed them the space we were thinking about and it got approved.”

This gallery has been a 27+ year project in the making for Taft, and finally he was able to open the gallery this past month.

The gallery currently features work from three of O’Brien’s previous students — Aaron Renier, Mark Dix and Jonah Osgood — who went on to pursue professional careers in art.

Renier is now a well-known published graphic novelist, Dix is the art and design department chairperson in the Fine Arts Institute at Green Bay East High School and Osgood is the owner of The Blue Gem Tattooing, located on University Avenue in Green Bay.

“They three (the previous students whose work was on display) were all with us for the opening, Pat was there, his wife, his daughter and grandkids…” said Taft. “It was a great turnout. I think we had about 100 people in the commons and gallery that evening, and I dedicated a speech and that space to him and his memory, knowing that he’s had such a great impact on the school and the kids that went there and it (the gallery) was his idea originally that he had shared with me so long ago for a gallery in the very same space that we ended up putting it… It was so cool to see all these alumni come together and see these mini class reunions of people who just celebrated the arts and spent time in the art department.”

In the future, the gallery will be used to display student work, other alumni work and potentially professional work to allow students to see exhibits of professional work without having to travel to museums.

To learn more about O’Brien, the gallery and more about the event, visit southwest.gbaps.org/southwest-stories.