Special exhibit featuring photographs taken by Brother Bernard on display in Fine Arts Building throughout March
Throughout the month of March, a special collection of original black-and-white photos taken by the late Brother Bernard Aurentz, OSB, will be on display in the Fine Arts Building. Admission is free and all are invited to see this special collection. Brother Bernard was born July 27, 1914, in Steelton, PA. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Boston University, and then worked in public relations for nearly 20 years before coming to Saint Leo in June of 1957.
Brother Bernard was drawn to monastic life after reading an advertisement written by Father Benedict Weigand that was published in a Catholic magazine. It wasn’t long after coming to Saint Leo that he picked up the mechanics of photography and began serving as the publicity director for both the abbey and the school. He served for several years as advisor for the committee in charge of writing The Golden Legend, the Saint Leo University yearbook, and was then lovingly known as “Mr. Yearbook,” a nickname he enjoyed for many years.
He particularly delighted in taking photographs of the local community, children, and details of spider webs found in nature. Dr. James Hughson, who currently is an instructor of photography at Saint Leo University, conducted his undergraduate studies here at Saint Leo and knew Brother Bernard. Hughson fondly remembered Brother Bernard’s skill with the camera, and said that “he used very unconventional techniques. When other photographers were using light meters to guide their shots, he never did.”
The photographs now on display are but a small sample of his work. In the photos you can see his interest in light as well as the tenderness with which he treated his subjects. This series of photos features African-Americans of all ages from the local community in the mid-20th century. The original photos are on loan from the Department of Undergraduate Social Work and have been lovingly matted and framed for display in the Fine Arts Gallery in honor of Black History Month. Brother Bernard gave 28 years of service to Saint Leo before he died peacefully July 13, 1985, at the age of 71. He is buried in the Saint Leo cemetery.
For more information, contact Megan Orendorf at (352) 588-8401 or jennifer.orendorf@saintleo.edu.
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