Edward Lund, a local artist and curator for the Art Space Gallery at Fresno City College, died in a crash on Saturday during a charity bike ride in Sonoma County.

According to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat on Oct. 3, Lund was participating in the Levi’s GranFondo charity ride when he lost control on a steep downhill stretch of mountain road north of Cazadero.

The Fresno Bee shared a Facebook post Lund’s partner Selena Mitchell wrote on Sunday:

“It is with great sadness that I share with you the news that the love of my life, Edward Lund, died yesterday in a bicycle race. He was doing what he loved in the passionate, beautiful way that he did everything, and for that, I find some peace. He will be deeply missed by Grace (her daughter) and I, and by all of the many people he touched in his multiple communities.”

Lund had been curator at FCC since 2006. His most recent exhibit, Scott Shaver Photography & Printmaking, opened last week at the Art Space Gallery. He had already started preparations for the exhibit of the new drawing instructor, Caleb Henderson’s work. Recently, Lund organized the Faculty Biennial Art exhibit from Aug. 31 to Sept. 24.

In addition to his work at FCC, Lund was also a gallery technician at Fresno State, working in the Phebe Conley Art Gallery as well as the College of Arts and Humanities Dean’s Gallery in the Music Building and the Graduate Art Studios at the M Street Arts Complex in downtown Fresno.

“We were saddened to learn of the passing of Edward Lund,” President Cynthia Azari wrote to the FCC community on Monday morning. ”Our condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues in the art community and biking community.” Both art and biking were his passions, Azari stated.

In an earlier article from The Rampage, Lund described his curating style as hands on. When it came to his own artwork, Lund referred to himself, with a laugh, as a “post studio artist.” His favorite medium was installation because, he said, he liked to build things and enjoy transforming a space.

Lund said that it didn’t bother him that this work was not permanent; “the experience of the viewer” was his motivation. With installation, Lund said, you can “create a work, document it, take it apart and if you need it, do it again.”

Deborah McGauley, a student aide who worked with Lund at the Art Space Gallery said she is still in shock about Lund’s death.

“We just talked to him Thursday during the Art Hop reception,” McGauley said.

McGauley said she will always remember his eye for art and how passionate he was about it.

“The man had three galleries he was working on. He would pick the artist, he would bring in the art and then hang it all up himself,” McGauley said. “He had a good eye for art and how to display it.”