Not many of Muhammad Ali’s former sparring partners can say that they’ve had original artwork displayed in galleries around the world.

In fact, I’d bet there’s only one.

That man is J. Arthur Sanders, a former professional middleweight contender and Michigan native, whose original oil paintings are currently being displayed in the Terryberry Gallery of St. Cecilia’s Music Society.

Sanders began painting as part of a rehabilitation program after a tragic car accident in Texas left him unable to continue his career as a pugilist.

Looking at Sanders’ work, it’s easy to see the influence of his time as a boxer and why those in the artistic community refer to him as a “naïve impressionist.”

His wide, visible brushstrokes point to a method of creation marked by speed and precision. His blending of vivid color is fearless. His style is powerful and unabashed.

But his subject matter is delicate, ranging from a solitary cottage, to fields of flowers and the sea just after a storm.

He is able to apply his commanding style to experiences common among anyone who has gazed at nature and appreciated its splendor.

This is what makes Sanders’ work so remarkable. Considering that for the first half of his life he was trained to brutalize others in the ring, his ability to create such serene visions on canvas is little short of miraculous.

Please forgive the cliché, but Sanders truly knows what it means to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

Sanders has trained at numerous colleges of art, including the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, the Insituto Allede in Guanajuato, Mexico and Western Michigan University, where he was honored as one of their “Centennial 100” most influential artists.

Sanders’ work has been displayed in the Liguoa Duncan gallery in Paris, the Lynn Kotler Galleries in New York City and at the University of Michigan.

Recently, Sanders was honored with a nomination for the Governor’s Michigan Artist Award.
Saint Cecilia’s will be holding a reception with Sanders on Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. He will be able to answer questions, respond to comments and provide insight into his incredible creations.

Admission to the Terryberry Gallery is free and Saint Cecilia’s is conveniently located directly behind one of The Rapid’s daily stops – there is truly no excuse not to take advantage of the opportunity to appreciate one of Michigan’s finest native artists.

After a stellar performance last season, finishing 23-3 and 16th in the NAIA, the Aquinas men’s tennis team is looking forward to another solid season. Despite losing two invaluable seniors — Mike Rose and Patrick Grashorn — to graduation, the team expects to maintain their relative domination in area play.

“We lost two very good seniors after last year that really helped us out with our doubles,” said senior Jason Beydoun. “We’re really going to have to focus on our doubles a lot in practice this year.”

But the team isn’t worried. “We have to make the best of what we’ve got, no excuses,” said Beydoun.

Stepping up to leadership roles on the team this year will be Rose’s former doubles partner, senior Patrick Bruining — who has received All-American honors for the past two years — and Beydoun who received Academic All-American hon-ors last season.

Both players have been with the team for several years now and have the experience and consistency necessary to push the team not only in their play but in spirit.

The team is filled out this season by lone junior Jordan O’Neill, whose continued improvement and strong play should factor into many wins this season.

Three sophomores — Dan Doerrfeld, Nick Ludwig and Tuan-anh Tran — will also play major roles in team play this year.

Each received significant playing time last season and provides the team with a unique style of play. Tran relies on speed and consistent returns to fluster his opponents into making mistakes, Ludwig utilizes a more defensive style of play, while Doerrfeld’s aggressive play pounds his opponents with high-pace shots.

The team’s only freshman this year is John Telfer, out of Midland, Mich. Telfer played first singles as captain of his high school team and earned All-State recognition in Division 1, as well as a top 75 ranking in the USTA Midwest boys 18s.

Telfer is expected to make an immediate contribution to the teams’ success, so expect to see him on the court from the onset of the season.

The team is currently still working on setting its lineup for both singles and doubles, but if last season is any indication, Bruining, Beydoun and O’Neill should all play high.

Competition this season will be testing, as the Saints will have to make their way past tough local teams like Calvin College and Grand Valley State.

“Our biggest matches this year are going to be against Calvin, Hope, Grand Valley, Webber and Olivet Nazarene,” said Beydoun. “The city tournament is coming up, and that’s going to be with Hope and Calvin. It should be a good competition.”

The season officially begins with the City Tournament, which is to take place Feb. 15-16 at the Riverview Athletic Club. The first home match for the Saints will take place Feb. 20 at 2:00 p.m. against Albion.

The men’s tennis team has proven over the years that they are a force to be reckoned with, and this season should be no exception. “We’re going to focus on our weaknesses in practice,” said Beydoun. “When we play, we‘re going to leave it all on the court. We aren’t going to make any excuses.”