Student-created art exhibit opens at Penn State Wilkes-Barre

A new student-created art exhibit has opened at Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s Friedman Art Gallery. The exhibit, which is free and open to the public every Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., runs through Sept. 15.

The artwork celebrates the unexpected and was created by students enrolled in four diverse Penn State Wilkes-Barre courses ranging from art to biology to literature. Those courses include:

• Students in the art and music history course studied various types of modern art and painting techniques this semester. They also discussed environmental art and how to utilize recycled materials for artistic projects. Students then created their own unique “CAPS,” or Creative Art Project for Students, using recycled hubcaps and plastic caps from bottles, recycled cardboard, paint and glue.
• Students in the perceiving the arts course studied various artworks and painting techniques and incorporated techniques from Bob Ross’ “Blue Winter” in a class project. Class members created their own interpretations of “Blue Winter” following Ross’ instructions.
• Students in the art in the natural world course explored the outdoors to learn about the flora and fauna of our region and connected with nature in meaningful ways. Class activities included experimenting with bird feeders, sculpting pinecones, writing naturalist poetry, and identifying birds, trees and arthropods using field guides. Students then sketched specimens they collected or observed throughout the semester.
• Students in the gothic short story course explored American Gothic short fiction, television and film adaptations, Gothic styles and themes. They also researched Pennsylvania locations of Gothic landmarks and created original Gothic-inspired art related to the course topics and discussions.

The Friedman Art Gallery was a gift from Sidney and Pauline Friedman as part of the Abram Nesbitt Academic Commons, which opened in 2008. The gallery regularly displays the works of students, local artists and private art collections.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre strives to promote, encourage, and exhibit artworks of professional and amateur artists from its campus and surrounding communities. For additional information about Friedman Art Gallery exhibits, contact Jonathan Pineno, lecturer of music and art; director of the Friedman Art Gallery and president of Arts at Hayfield, at 570-675-9159 or [email protected].