Last modified: Saturday, March 29, 2008 4:11 PM EDT Marly Rogers-Belleau and her daughter Aurora, 15 months, of Providence look at "The Jazz Bowl or New Yorker" a ceramic by Viktor Schreckengost. The Viktor Schreckengost Legact Exhibition opened at the Attleboro Arts Museum on Friday night. (Staff photo by Tom Maguire) Attleboro Arts Museum displays Schreckengost legacy BY LAURA CALVERLEY / FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE ATTLEBORO - Opening night of the Viktor Schreckengost exhibition at the Attleboro Arts Museum was the kind of event the noted artist and industrial designer would have appreciated. "He would be delighted," said his widow, Gene Schreckengost about the exhibition. More than 100 people attended the event, including 25 of his former students. "His teaching was so important to him," said Mrs. Schreckengost. "He loved spending time with his students." Schreckengost, a Cleveland resident who taught for 70 years until he was 93 years old, influenced many students who went on to create an array of consumer and industrial products, from children's pedal toys to the Corvette, both of which are included in the exhibit. One of Schreckengost's former students, Chuck Tramontana, is a museum trustee and lead curator of the exhibit. Schreckengost and Tramontana were lifelong friends, according to the museum director, and Tramontana was instrumental in bringing the exhibition to Attleboro. "The gentleman was unbelievable," said Tramontana. "Seventy years of teaching. 70 years as an artist and designer. He was a wonderful source of inspiration to his students." The exhibition includes many of his students' works, which are all displayed along the outside fixed walls and include testimonials about the artist. Schreckengost's work, including ceramics, sculptures, paintings, drawings and product designs lie in the middle of the room, on free-floating walls and pedestals. His renowned "Jazz Bowl," created in 1930, sits in the very center. "The original concept was to have Viktor's work in the epicenter and that influence radiate out to his students," said Mim Fawcett, Executive Director of the museum. A jazz theme runs through many of Schreckengost's work from his ceramics to his watercolor paintings. According to his widow, he loved jazz and worked as a professional sazophone player for many years. All of the pieces in the exhibition are from Schreckengost's personal collection. "These pieces were in his home. They were near and dear to him. It makes it that more special for us. We're very fortunate," said Fawcett. As visitors and friends listened to tin pan alley music and enjoyed refreshments, they reminisced about Schreckengost, known as America's Da Vinci, and enjoyed his art and design projects. One of his legacy students who also taught with him, Peter Zorn, came from Florida for the event. He said "Viktor's the guy you never stop learning from." The Viktor Schreckengost Legacy Exhibition runs March 21-May 16 at Attleboro Arts Museum. For additional information, or to obtain tickets visit www.attleboroartsmuseum.org or call 508-222-2644.