Valuable Religious Antiques

Published by The Exponent, October 14, 2005

Valuable religious antiques donated to University

(The Exponent – Purdue University’s Independent Student Newspaper) A collection of art dating back to the 16th century will find permanent residence at the Purdue University Galleries, valued at over $300,000.

Katherine "Betsy" Scheuring, a resident of Indianapolis, owns one of the largest religious art collections in the nation, and said she has been collecting these icons for over 35 years.

The 132 Russian and Ethiopian icons are of the Eastern Orthodox faith, and have been lining the walls and stairwell of Scheuring's home until just recently when the former ballet instructor of 30 years decided to move to a smaller residence.

Craig Martin, director of the Purdue University Galleries, explained that these icons bring an entirely new dimension to the mainly contemporary collection that the Galleries currently has.

"They have historical significance as devotional objects that were integral to the faith they celebrated and as somewhat controversial items that have at various times been banned and even destroyed for ideological reasons," Martin said.

Scheuring's collection was originally exhibited in 1996 at Purdue. Since then, the College of Liberal Arts has been in close contact with Scheuring as she continued to consider the possibility of donating the icons.

Tom Adler, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts, was involved in the process of Scheuring's donation and said that it was a wonderful addition to the University.

"It will introduce our students to a different culture, and bridge the cultures of the east and west," he said.

Adler also said that Scheuring preferred to keep the entire collection together, which is one of the main reasons she wanted to donate to Purdue.

"People would say, �Surely you'll want to take a couple with you,'" Scheuring said. "But I believe that that would spoil the collection."

Scheuring also has personal ties to Purdue, as her father and two brothers are alumni.

The collection will be displayed in October of 2006, and Scheuring is eager to see the finished product.

"I was so glad that Purdue was interested," Scheuring said. "This is a collection and should be shown and used and enjoyed."



Volume 7 Number 42 - Tuesday, October 18, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY