People gathered in Jake Carbahan-Curcio’s showcase titled ‘Creature Feature’. Provided by Paige Nichols.
Written by: Paige Nichols
Summertime at Seton Hill University signifies the end of a long winter and the beginning of a new story: Graduation. Each major celebrates the accomplishments of seniors in a different way, but the Seton Hill Visual Arts Buildings wrap up the year with a unique tradition: senior showcases.
“Visual Alchemy: Merging Media and Design” is a group show currently on display in the Harlan Gallery at Seton Hill. Senior artist, Kassidy White, is showcasing her independent brand, KassidyCaptures. In a statement, White gave background on her inspirations as a designer, explaining, “With my graphic design work, it is mostly contemporary. I’ve been inspired by graphic design artists like David Carson, who have influenced some of my pieces.” Through grunge-derived design and photography, White has curated double-exposed film of Seton Hill’s sports teams. These images not only merge White’s passions for design and photography, but also bridge the gap between the main campus and the arts building.
Senior Showcases come in all shapes and sizes, including solo exhibitions. Three senior artists, Abby Gingrich, Jake Carnahan-Curcio, and Hannah Simak, shared behind-the-scenes details of their process.
These celebratory exhibitions run at the end of every semester, as every Visual Arts graduate receives an opportunity to display their cumulative work. Abby Gingrich’s solo show, “Course of Nature: Existence as We Know it” took place in April. Like the seasons, Gingrich’s show has ended, and is moving back to York, PA for future independent work. Her otherworldly ceramic sculptures, such as “Spores,” hold a life of their own.
In discussing setbacks, Gingrich stated, “I had my first attempt of the vessel collapse on me, so I had to start all over and account for what went wrong. Even the glazing was not what I had originally expected to do, but it turned out perfectly how I would have wanted it.” Despite setbacks, Gingrich successfully opened her show on time and now plans to continue her work outside of university.
As of April 2025, “Creature Feature” is the multi-media, analog horror-inspired exhibition of Jake Carnahan-Curcio at Seton Hill. Taking place in the 3rd Floor Critique Room, Carnahan-Curcio’s monstrous tale is conveyed through a combination of sculpture, painting, film, and auditory design. “Der Doppelgänger” towers above as the largest sculpture in the room, covered in dark fur, two glowing eyes, and sharp teeth. The origins of this creepy creature were explained by the artist, stating, “This monster was created from a photograph I took of a large rat I found in a basement. These pieces became the starting point of my monster series and helped me develop stories and settings.” Carnahan-Curcio’s experiments with monsters took center stage in his breakout film, showcased at the “Creature Feature” reception on April 26th.
Just two floors below, another showcase, “Lost and Found” by Hannah Simak, opened its doors to the public on April 24th. In the 3rd Bay of the Harlan Gallery, the animated film “Lost and Found” in collaboration with Haven Studios is currently being shown until May 19th. Focusing on faith, a large part of Seton Hill Culture, this showcase doubles as a brand launch for Haven Studios. Addressing the nuances of belief, this 3-D animated film aims to connect with viewers and explore the complicated experience of the director, Simak. Simak stated, “This animation shows a faith-filled person who is still struggling to believe in Christ. It is slightly based on my own experiences and feelings I’ve had with my faith, so it means a lot to me, and I want others to enjoy it and connect to it as well.”
While you might have missed past showcases, every year there are new opportunities to find yourself encountering a movie or monster at the Visual Arts Building. Find announcements for future showcases in the Fall of 2025 at setonianonline.com.