Art Collection on Display at Salpointe Thanks to 2005 Alum

Advancement Department
Alex Lee ’05 didn’t just come to appreciate fine art over time, he was born into it. 
Alex’s grandparents, Jack and Aline Goodman, continue to play a pivotal role in propelling the caliber and proliferation of Western art and artists throughout the Southwest. Jack started Tucson’s legendary Mountain Oyster Club in 1948 in the basement of his father’s Santa Rita Hotel. Now at 96 years old, Jack still serves on the art committee for the “MO Club.”  

Alex’s mother, Lucy Goodman, or Mama, as Alex fondly calls her, embraced her parents’ love of fine art. Like her parents, she amassed an extensive collection of original Western art over her all-too-short lifetime. “Mama mwould take me to historical landmarks and museums and we never missed the chance to walk through an art gallery. She could make anything fun!” said Alex. “She spoke about lines in a painting, or an interesting foreground and how an artist might have been working to fade some mystic theme into the idea of the painting. I have always felt extremely lucky to experience art the way my family exposed me to it.” Tragically, Alex’s vibrant mother Lucy passed away on June 20, 2016 after a private but valiant battle with
cancer.

While Alex inherited her art collection, he did not have space to hang the many pieces. He hated the thought of selling it. Attempting to turn his grief into something positive, Alex noted, “If I can protect my mother’s collection and have people enjoy it, then I feel like I am continuing her legacy.” As a proud Lancer alum, he reached out to president Kay Sullivan about  the possibility of displaying the collection on Salpointe’s campus.

“I was inspired by Alex’s enthusiastic goal that Lancers have the opportunity to experience fine Western art. And in honoring his beloved mother with this project, Alex was able to merge his passion for art and his personal commitment to Salpointe. Salpointe is most grateful to Alex and the Goodman family for this unparalleled opportunity. The pieces truly tell the story of the American West,” said Sullivan.

The collection also gave Salpointe art students the ability to study the process of curating and jurying an art exhibition. “In the spring, our advanced art students were given the opportunity to jury a body of famous Western art, thanks to Alex,” said fine arts faculty member Jo Valandry. “The jurying process took place before the art was brought to campus; then seeing the art in person led the class to an impactful discussion about how professional work is framed and displayed and how it accrues in value.”

Art students were tasked with cataloguing, organizing and choosing locations for the pieces of varying sizes and genres. Students selected areas for display that would allow for as many Lancers to experience the art, such as
the library and student services center.

“I hope my mother’s art collection continues two of her passions in life: affecting students of all ages and promoting western art,” said Alex.

Salpointe thanks Alex Lee for enriching the education of our students by sharing his extraordinary collection of historic and contemporary Western art.

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Salpointe Catholic High School

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