Harold Zisla was hired as the Department Chair for the then Department of Fine Arts under the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences., in 1966. Previous to his tenure at IU South Bend, Zisla was the director of the South Bend Art Center (now the South Bend Museum of Art). While on campus, he saw the development of fine arts classes from ad hoc locations to dedicated studio spaces, the introduction of a BA in Fine Arts degree, and was the first to be recognized by the prestigious Lundquist award in 1985.
This exhibition showcases a selection of Harold Zisla’s paintings from the permanent collections of the South Bend Museum of Art, Indiana University South Bend’s Raclin School of the Arts, Temple Beth-El in South Bend, and several private collectors. The exhibit spans Zisla’s prolific career from the 1950s until shortly before his passing in 2016 at the age of 90, offering a comprehensive look at his artistic evolution from realistic portraiture to abstract imagery.
The exhibition will be open to the public from September 16 through December 13, 2024, Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM, at the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, located at 3202 Shalom Way in South Bend. The opening celebration will take place on Sunday, September 15, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, and will feature remarks by Harold’s son, Paul Zisla.