Seton Hill University’s (SHU) student exhibition was held at the Harlan Gallery until September 24, 2009. It was a wonderful mixture and clash of several different types of mediums, which bring together various forms of art and skill anywhere from three-dimensional art to photography. It was truly a show that strikes the eye with a uniqueness that constitutes for complete originality, as it opens hearts to new and exciting art forms found just outside dorm rooms and class rooms.
By Stephanie Wytovich
Staff Writer
Seton Hill University’s (SHU) student exhibition was held at the Harlan Gallery until September 24, 2009. It was a wonderful mixture and clash of several different types of mediums, which bring together various forms of art and skill anywhere from three-dimensional art to photography. It was truly a show that strikes the eye with a uniqueness that constitutes for complete originality, as it opens hearts to new and exciting art forms found just outside dorm rooms and class rooms.
The pieces displayed were a mixture of works done for final projects, classroom assignments, or just from being struck by creative inspiration. Some of the art was created by artists who claim to have just jumped right into it, while others were inspired by worldly issues and feelings that were happening at a certain moment in time.
Leara Glinzack, a sophomore, said, “[she] wanted to display a mood of sadness from children all over the world and that the chips of newspapers [that she used] were of crime, war, and politics.” She also added that “[she] hoped that the audience would realize that innocent children all over are being affected by the choices and actions made by those in authority, and that we all need to work on how we can relate to each other.”
On the other side of the spectrum, Molly Huffman, a senior, said, “One of my pieces is a series of four monochromatic self-portrait oil paintings in which I depicted a different emotion to coincide with the color it is painted in. I got the idea from one of my friends, an education major at SHU, when working on a lesson plan of how colors can be associated with specific emotions. Each person houses so many different emotions… each emotion owning a unique facial expression. I decided to examine the different facial appearances I make, and [then looked at] what emotion I tend[ed] to do with them,” said Huffman.
“During the process, I focused on becoming aware of when my expression changed, why, and what I felt. Another piece in the gallery I did was for one of my examinations on the correlations between emotions and expression. It is a cast aluminum self portrait called My Own Worst Enemy in which a noose made of my own hair wraps around my neck as I scream,” said Huffman.
The exhibit hosts mediums that vary from recycled materials, to aluminum castings, all the way to clay work. The great variety of styles and techniques that showcase the student’s creativity, and what is exceptionally interesting is that the work is not all done by art majors! One can see a variety of different focus points and concentrations blending in with one another as each field of study brings something new to the table.
Maureen Vissat, a professor of art history, said, “I think it was a remarkable collection of different genres of art that showcased the talent that lies both within and outside the university, and I think that the students really did a great job at expressing their imagination! What I found to be the true beauty about this exhibition is that there doesn’t need to be a reason to create art, because sometimes you just feel the need to create.”
The next exhibition at the Harlan Gallery, titled “Ben Golden: Remnants & Remembrance,” will run from Oct. 1 through the 29. The reception is Oct. 1 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. and docent tours will be available.