Inspire, Spring 2010

advanc ing Cedarv i l le He stood before the painting, transfixed. The colors, the lines, the brush strokes — he’d never seen anything like it. The sixth-grade son of a Dutch immigrant, Floyd Rietveld had won himself a day at the Toledo Art Institute after showing prize-winning cattle at the county fair. In the 1930s, a bus ride to the city amounted to a big time for a farm boy from Celeryville, Ohio. But it was the art that would change his life. A Clean Canvas Though he made his living as an engineer, Floyd never lost his fascination with fine art. He voraciously read about art history. Anytime he traveled for his job, he made a point to visit museums and galleries. He’d talk for hours with museum directors and docents — anyone willing to answer his questions. Soon, Floyd learned to identify artists by their distinctive techniques and to assess a painting’s worth. At the beginning, he only purchased a few inexpensive paintings since, as a newlywed, he couldn’t afford much. When his wife, Annie, realized her husband’s interest had grown beyond a passing hobby, she encouraged him to start investing in a collection. Soon afterward, Floyd made his first purchase, a painting by Henry Farny. He spent hours preparing to make an educated bid at an art auction and was quite surprised to acquire the piece for such a low price. He later learned this valuable painting was supposed to be held for the second day of the auction, causing representatives en route from New York galleries to miss their chance to bid. Floyd found another gem in a friend’s attic — an Alfred Bricher painting — which his friend sold him in exchange for help in identifying a James Whistler painting. As his art knowledge grew, Floyd began making connections with representatives from established galleries in Chicago, Boston, and New York. He had a great time buying, selling, and trading his paintings as he built an impressive personal collection. Brush Strokes Floyd and Annie Rietveld first became connected with Cedarville in 1975. They were among the first President’s Associates * with their annual gifts and contributed to building projects, scholarships, and pivotal new academic programs like the Elmer W. Engstrom Department of Engineering and Computer Science. But Floyd always held a more personal vision for Cedarville. Long before the school had an art program, he dreamt of an art museum on campus — a place with the proper setting, lighting, and security to accommodate traveling art exhibits. Floyd often made trips to Chicago just so he could sit for hours studying a famous painting, and he hoped one day Cedarville students could have a place on campus to do the same. So, Floyd and Annie began tailoring their investments to bring fine art to Cedarville. A Work of Art by Carol Lee ’96 Since his first Cedarville Fund gift in 1975, Floyd Rietveld has watched his investment grow. An avid art collector, he has an eye for talent — and a vision for Cedarville. 26 SPRING 2010