Thoughts by President Mitchell Thomashow on the Passing of Professor Emeritus Leonard Craig

I am saddened to announce that Professor Emeritus Leonard Craig, a wonderful artist, and long-time faculty member of Unity College passed away last evening. If you explore Unity College’s history, you quickly learn that Leonard was instrumental in bringing art to Unity College. He joined the faculty in 1972 and for twenty years taught classes, designed curriculum, organized exhibitions, and was the campus spokesperson for the importance of art in liberal and environmental learning. He retired from the faculty in 1992. Our lovely Leonard R. Craig Art Gallery was named in his honor.

Leonard Craig and his nephew Marc Craig

At Unity, Leonard established the arts program, a Center of Visual Studies, supervised senior thesis projects in the arts, and established an art gallery (which also held poetry readings). His campus-wide projects included planting the birch grove in front of Koons Hall, participation in campus master planning, conceptualization of “A View of the Unity College Campus from the Cheeseman Farm (in collaboration with Frances Hodgsdon, and a sabbatical work, “cantos” on bird vocalizations.

Leonard’s career spanned his experiences as a practicing artist, an arts administrator, a lecturer, a teacher, and an exhibition curator. His paintings and prints are collected internationally. Among his countless unique experiences and accomplishments, he designed wine labels for a villa owner in Florence, Italy and designed liturgical works for the Vatican.

Dot Quimby recalls, “Leonard was Unity’s first introduction to Art in our curriculum, and with his ability and personality won over the most ‘anti-art’ faculty very quickly. It was not an easy job, but he very soon became respected even by those who didn’t see any need for art in our curriculum. He was a great guy and I loved him.”

Jim Horan writes, “One remarkable project he did while here was a series of abstract paintings that represented bird vocalizations, in collaboration with ornithologists. He also created a beautiful lithograph of the Cheeseman farm next door as a college fundraiser.”

Unity College commemorates Leonard’s important role in the curricular growth of the college. I have attached a copy of his family’s obituary as well as a recent photograph of Leonard.

Thanks to Barry Woods, Jim Horan, Dot Quimby, and Wilson Hess for their contributions in compiling these thoughts.

Mitch Thomashow

President

Obituary of Leonard Craig

On 13 April 2010, Leonard R. Craig of Shawmut, ME died peacefully. The son of Calvin and Della Craig, he was born in Springfield, MA on April 11, 1926 and raised in Shawmut. The day after graduating from Lawrence High School in 1944, Leonard was called to military duty and served his country with distinction in the Philippines receiving the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Following the war, he entered the New England Art & Design Institute in Boston and later, Boston University where he completed his BFA. In 1954, he reentered military service and studied to be a language translator.

Following the Korean War, Leonard painted the reredos for St. Mary’s Church in Asheville, N.C. There he received a grant to study for a year with Pietro Annigoni in Florence, Italy. He continued his studies at the Accademia di Belle Arti for eight more years where he earned a PhD under the direction of Sergio Scatizzi. In 1964, he was commissioned to design the holy vestments of H.H. Pope Paul VI for which he received a Papal Medal of Recognition. From 1966 to 1972, Leonard taught at The Asheville School in North Carolina and at West Carolina University while maintaining an apartment in Florence.

In 1972, Leonard joined Unity College. During his 20 year tenure, he played a pivotal role in developing Unity’s art and humanities disciplines. Following retirement, he was awarded the status of Professor Emeritus. In 2003, he was further honored by the dedication of the Leonard R. Craig Art Gallery at Unity College.

Leonard has exhibited throughout the U.S. and Italy. Institutions and individuals including the Florence Museum of Modern Art and the Vatican have collected his paintings, prints and drawings. Although he has not exhibited in the past few years, he continues to be represented by the ICON Gallery of Contemporary Art in Brunswick, ME. Always a lover of nature, Leonard expressed his pastoral passion in art and the pursuit of outdoor activities.

Dedicated as a teacher, scholar and accomplished artist, Leonard was a renaissance man who touched the lives of relatives and countless friends, students and acquaintances with his hospitality, warmth and dignified yet unassuming presence. As an entertainer and gracious host, he loved visitors, making his guests welcomed with his delicious cooking, art studio tours and stimulating conversation.

Leonard was predeceased by his brother, Ronald, and is survived by his sister, Sylvia Gordon and two brothers, Belford and Clayton along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. Leonard wished for his remains to be scattered on the Arno River in his beloved Florence, Italy. A celebration of his life will be held in June with location and date to be announced in the Waterville Morning Sentinel. Final arrangements are in the care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation and Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, ME.