Artists Respond to 10th Anniversary of 9/11 With Gallery Show

Penn State Lehigh Valley opens its special gallery exhibition Reaction and Healing: The Tenth Anniversary of 9-11 with a free public reception on Sept. 8 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Two of the artists whose work will be on display -- Denise Bankuti of Burbank, Calif., and Kathy Levine of Brooklyn, NY. -- will be at the program.

“These are professional artists with international exhibition experience,” said Ann Lalik, Gallery Director and Arts Coordinator at Penn State Lehigh Valley. “We have several mediums -- paper, bronze, fiber, paint and pastels; it’s a combination of medium, politics, art and spirituality.”

The brain child of Marilyn Fox, director of Penn State Berks' Freyberger Gallery, Reaction and Healing will bring more than 80 submissions and 40 artists displaying their work at the Center Valley campus and at three other locations -- the Freyberger Galley, the Yocum Institute for Arts Education in Wyomissing and the Jewish Cultural Center of Reading. 

“There was such an overwhelming response to call for artwork that Marilyn asked us to partner with her,” said Lalik. “I selected seven artists and multiple pieces from each. I felt each of their statements about how and why they express themselves was significant.”

In addition to Bankuti and Levine, participating artists will be Patricia Dahlman of Lyndhurst, NJ; Beth Krensky of Salt Lake City, Utah; Marjorie Morrow of New York City; Katie Samuelson of Cheshire, Conn., and David Wander of New York City.

Speaking philosophically, Lalik articulated her thoughts on the power of the exhibit. Seeing the images and expression, she said, “confronts the participant in a very different way, demanding an immediate reaction whether you want to recognize it or not.” She further explained that the images themselves evoke thoughts not only of the attacks but the impact they had on those who experienced and survived the attacks. 

Lalik said she cannot mention the exhibit without having the person with whom she is speaking tell her about where they were and what they were doing at the time of the attack. The exhibit has spurred a campuswide discussion on 9-11 and tolerance among its diverse community, which includes many Islamic students from Middle Eastern countries.

“I think, specifically at a college campus, it is very relevant to do an exhibit on 9-11. . . These students were only in grade school at the time of the attacks. Their whole perception of national security and safety is so different from our perception as adults.“

In addition to the gallery exhibition, activities throughout the day will enhance the impact of the art for the campus and community. Of particular interest is a presentation by author Dr. Moustafa Bayoumi at 12:15pm. He will be discussing his 2008 American Book Award-winning How Does It Feel To Be a Problem?: Being Young and Arab in America, 10 years after 9/11.

Also of interest is the workshop Recycled Paper Casting by featured artist Levine from 2 - 4pm. She will explain how her recycled paper sculpture is a response to her life in Brooklyn post 9-11. Limited space is available and there is a $15 fee to attend.  Those interested should register online or call 610-285-5058.

Reaction and Healing: The Tenth Anniversary of 9-11 will be on display from Sept. 6 through Oct. 21.