2 Art Exhibits Open At West Chester University

WEST CHESTER, PA — Two new art exhibits are opening at West Chester University this year, the school recently announced.

"Inside the Bug Jar" is a diverse collection of work by West Chester's Studio Art alumni, including paintings, ceramics, porcelain work, and photography. It will be on display from Jan. 22 to Feb. 22 at the E.O. Bull Center's Baker Gallery.

It's inspired by a poem of the same title written by class of 2015 alum Nicholas Burns.

"My poem examines personal artistic identity," Burns said. "We’ve all had moments of doubt as artists, but this exhibit brings together the unique work of each of these talented artists and offers a conversation about the many ways artistic identity can be developed. Since leaving West Chester, I feel that all of us participating in this exhibit have finally accepted the individual paths we have created for ourselves as artists."

Work featured by Paul Ballard ‘16, Nicholas Burns ‘15, Rosemary Campellone ‘15, Devon Dadoly ‘14, Olivia Everett ‘15, Jennifer Hartz ‘14, Matt Higgins ‘11, Catalina Lassen ‘15, Samantha Pace ‘15, Francesca Phillips ‘14, Kathryn Rogers ‘15, Rebecca Shagin ‘14, and Sara Yourist ‘14 is included.

The other exhibit is "A Thing is Determined by its Nature," a dance performance video embedded into an art installation. It will be at the Knauer Gallery in the Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center from Jan. 22 to March 1.

It's designed by assistant professor of theatre and dance, Liz Staruch, and is inspired by the German Brauhaus, an art school operational that revolutionized artistic design from 1919 to 1933.

"The Bauhaus was founded on the principal that all arts - architecture, dance, music, theatre, visual – would eventually be brought together, the very definition of interdisciplinary as we now call it," Staruch said. "This exhibit was inspired, in part, to honor the 100th Anniversary of the Bauhaus, which we will celebrate this year."

Three West Chester dance minor graduates —Mackenzie Holmes ’15, Morgan Miller ’16 and Kelsey Zolochik ’16 — performed in the dance piece.

Images courtesy West Chester University