While I can not speak for everyone in my class, I can say that my high school cafeteria was a drab, white box with peeling wall paper and long, ugly tables. Thankfully, that is not the case here at Penn State. I eat at Pollock Commons nearly everyday. Each meal, I try to move to a new area of the dining hall in order to view the colorful artwork that adorns the brightly painted walls. The furniture and lighting also adds to the atmosphere. Exciting pop-art prints in the style of famous artist Roy Lichtenstein are hung throughout the rooms. The depictions of super heroes speak to the inner child inside of all of us as we chew our food.
While I appreciate Penn States attempt at brightening my day through the arts, some argue that the paintings are an unnecessary use of our tuition dollars. They have a point. Why not invest this money into cooking better food for students? Either way, the university’s renovations are here to stay and many students appreciate the creativity.
Nothing says school spirit like 8,000 pounds of stainless steal manipulated into a three dimensional form of the school motto. That is exactly what Penn State planted on the corner of Curtin Road and University Drive, next to the new Intramural Sports building. Chances are, you’ve already seen this statue while walking to Beaver Stadium or running around campus – standing at twelve feet tall, its hard to miss- but do you know how it got there?
Brooklyn based artist and Penn State graduate of the class of 1994, Jonathan Cramer created the sculpture to stand as tangible evidence of what it means to be a “Penn Stater”. The bends and twist in its form represent the hard times that the university has undergone, yet the letters, and the institution stand together. A national competition was launched in order to choose a design for the class gift of 2013. The winning participant was Cramer, along with his goal to create “a sculpture design that meets the exuberance, energy and pride of the school, its alumni, and its location…The reflective nature of the steel creates a dialogue between the viewer, the surroundings, and fellow peers, which further solidifies the ‘We Are’ slogan.”
This statue was officially dedicated by President Baron, along with Mrs. Barbra Palmer, at the beginning of the fall semester and will stand as a symbol of Penn State for years to come.
We all have a favorite movie, book, song or ice cream flavor- one that never gets old, regardless of the number of times we enjoy it. I have a favorite piece of art.
Upon my first visit to the Palmer Museum of Art as a high school senior, I was immediately drawn to one particular painting. At first glance, this piece appears to be no more than an ordinary depiction of a still life, a classic painting of a collection of fruit. However, as the viewer moves closer, smaller images appear the pile of apples and pears. Framed within are the reproduced works of European artists that display pastoral scenes of women. Taking a step back from the painting reveals the overarching pair of bullseye circles that allude to a set of fascinated eyes. These unique layers of the painting create a process that the artist, Julie Heffernan, calls “image streaming”. This technique is becoming more popular in modern art as a way to entertain the viewer with multiple meanings incased in one design.
Heffernan, a former assistant art professor at Penn State, painted Self-Portrait of a Woman Recovering from the Effects of Male Gaze as a memoir of the oppression women have faced throughout history. The fruit alone insinuates the common place of comparing a woman’s body shape to that of an apple or a pear. I can not think of a better way to capture the mind of a female than a jumbled collection of feminist images. Thus, nearly every woman can relate to the themes in this painting.
We all receive those notorious Penn State Today emails that flood our webmail inboxes on a weekly basis. While they are sometimes informative and intriguing, I often find myself sliding the emails into the trash without giving the articles more than a quick skim.
However, one recent newsletter caught my attention. Last week, the headlining article of the email announced that Penn State’s Palmer Museum of Art is in the process of making their collection accessible online through the Library’s webpage. Public access to over 7,000 pieces of artwork is an amazing example of the way technology can provide knowledge and exposure to things previously unattainable. This will allow students, alumni, researchers, staff, and art lovers from around the world to expand their horizons in art culture.
Carolyn Lucarelli, a member of the Department of Art History’s Visual Resources Centre agrees that becoming connected is a must, and the museum aims to upload the remaining pieces of the collection as well.
My only concern is that museums may become the next Blockbuster in the age of Netflix; an obsolete thing of the past. It would be a shame if the next generation misses the opportunity to take a Sunday stroll through a museum. Atmosphere is not something that can be experienced through the screen of a Macbook.
There is no shortage of community or tradition at Penn State. This university is known for its heritage; students and alumni claim to bleed blue and white. From the lion shrine on the North end of campus, to the newly installed “We Are” sign to the East, students and visitors can sense the Penn State pride.
A walk downtown will show that this trend continues to flourish. Local businesses show their support for their colligate customers by posting the school’s logo on every pliable surface. When some one shouts “We are!” in the middle of the sidewalk, he is sure to be met with at least twenty voices, simultaneously boasting “Penn State!”
This pride is more than a fan base. State College has been transformed into the home base for Nittany Nation, a culture of past, current, and future Penn Staters that allow this glory to thrive.
One specific piece of Penn State memorabilia that demonstrates the communal spirit to the public can be viewed on Heister Street. In 2001, Michael Pilato, a Pennsylvania native, began painting a gigantic mural on the side of the Student Book Store. This ongoing project, titled Inspiration, features notable and inspiring figures from State College and serves as a reminder of what can be obtained through hard work and dedication.
(AP Photo/Genaro C. Armas)
Measuring a colossal 97 by 24 feet, the mural features a variety of Penn Staters, including Guion S. Bluford Jr, the first African American in space. One of the most famous portraits to be featured is of the belated Joe Paterno, former head football coach and local legend. At one time, he was joined by Jerry Sandusky, but that portion of the scene was covered with Jasmin Enriquez, a recent graduate who started a sexual violence awareness organization called Only With Consent. This change, along with others, symbolize the historical journey Penn State has experienced.
This work of art will continue to intrigue viewers as they admire the dedication of Pilato to Happy Valley. It serves not only as a major landmark in the downtown area, but also as a contribution the arts of Penn State.
Art is everywhere. We come in contact with it everyday. From the posters on the walls of our dorms to the abstract paintings hung in Pollock Dining Commons. Art rolls by us as an advertisement placed on the side of a CATA Bus. In addition, not all artwork is seen with the eyes. It flows from the artist in various forms, including music or dance. Even this blog post is a creative outlet, confirming that each one of us is indeed an artist.
Within the endless ream of artwork that can be can seen around the globe, different forms appeal to unique individuals. My mother once questioned how a piece of abstract art that appeared as if it were “made by a toddler” could be displayed in a museum. The answer is this: art is a journey. Behind each piece, there is a story that is interpreted differently by each viewer. The way that a song, painting, or sculpture can appeal to a person’s soul is what makes it so interesting.
The elements of design can be used as far more than creative expression. Both large corporations and small businesses often use artwork, including television commercials or billboards, to boost marketing initiatives. They also use color psychology to trigger feelings. For example, the color red is known to induce hunger. However, this initiative is not limited to visual displays. Studies have shown the ability of rhythmic patterns in music, as well as catchy slogans, to manipulate the human mind. Recall the last time you walked into a clothing retailer. Chances are, there was a strategically planned playlist bumping in the background while you shopped. The marketing department of firms strive to prepare an environment that appeals to the customer’s mood and encourages spending.
It is obvious that the influence of artwork extends far beyond the walls of a museum. It plays through the stereo of our cars, adorns the walls of our homes, and boosts business in the work place. Utilizing analytical skills in the artistic world is important to nearly every career path. Opening our minds to the art around campus can also enhance our academic experience as individuals of various cultures and backgrounds express their creativity.
My high school art class was a refreshing output for the stress that I accumulated from a days work. Senior year was accompanied by study hall and after school pottery sessions. Upon graduation, I had accumulated a collection of about thirty pieces of personal art. Although my drawing and painting skills are inferior to many of my classmates, each composition tells a unique story, designed to intrigue the viewer and provide an opportunity for self expression. This has always been my favorite part of art.
Inspired by the introduction to my grandmother’s favorite television series, The Twilight Zone, this painting features the zero-gravity atmosphere of the human mind. This is how I chose depict a busy students mind as they are balancing schoolwork, discovering new social connections, and discovering the world. In the foreground, a pair of grayscale hands cradles the melting earth, symbolizing man’s role in environmental and humanitarian issues, both prominent concerns on a college campus. A glance to the bottom right portion of the illustration will show a classic timepiece. This, paired with the magnet, apple, paper clip and buttons in the picture, symbolize the necessity of time, energy, and life, in holding the universe together. The small marbles on either side add continuity to the piece and tie into the large, circular mandalas in the background. The flower of life, featuring the color spectrum of the human eye, is a symbol of sacred geometry, said to contain ancient, religious value depicting the fundamental forms of space and time.
It is surprising to discover the large number of Penn State students that have not visited the Palmer Museum of Art. Located next to Forum on Curtin Road, this gallery is home to over 7,500 pieces of various media from around the globe. The permanent collection features a harmonious blend of Nineteenth-Century American landscape paintings, African sculpture, contemporary ceramics, and much more. Anyone can utilize this great presentation of the arts as a tool to relieve stress accumulated from academic toil.
Did I mention it is free of charge?
What are you waiting for? Enter through Palmer’s inviting lion paws that contribute to the bold exterior of the building that was renovated and expanded in 1993 to accommodate a larger collection that ever imagined. Numerous artists and collectors have contributed to the Museum’s permanent assemblage, allowing Penn state to house the largest art collection between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Many temporary exhibits stop in Happy Valley on their journey between these two cities, providing students with a chance to view the work of big-name artists such as Andy Warhol. This semester’s temporary display includes fragile drawings and watercolors from the archives, a plethora of modern art for the abstract enthusiast, and work of Alexander Archipenko, a pioneering figure in the history of modern sculpture.
With so much to see, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. However, the friendly staff inside this fortress of fine art are willing to help you navigate through the 11 galleries, print-study room, and outdoor sculpture garden that encompass the Palmer Museum. In addition, museum programs and special events, including gallery talks, lectures by national and international artists and scholars, music, dance, and theater performances, film series, and workshops, are regularly offered at no cost.
As human beings, we are compelled to evaluate aquantinces before gaining adequate information on their past experiences. The first few weeks of college, a journey we are all currentlctive law student, and liberal arts major, I face stereotypes as well.y undertaking, is a prime example. As students, and staff, meet their new classmates, floor-mates, and colleagues, false assumptions are often formed in regard an individual’s biography. Student’s whisper about the quiet girl, with dark hair and her nose tucked in a book, insisting that she must be “a freak.” In the dining commons, a group of boys taunt a flock of sorority sisters, branding them as “fake” or “dumb”. Unfortunately, this type of profiling happens everyday, and is an unfair gauge of one’s true character. Even the most open-minded sometimes cave to judgmental tendencies. As an aspiring Paterno Fellow, prospective law student, I face an abundance of stereotypes. However, we are all unique. As I make new friends, they are often shocked when I reveal my passion for art. Remarkably, I served as the president of the art club at my high school, and completed every design course that was offered. Expressing my creativity serves as an outlet for the stress built up by my more academically challenging courses. I also have an interest in analyzing artwork from local or famous, illustrators, painters, photographers, and sculptors. Developing a story to accompany a creation is appealing to both the senses and the mind.
The attached image is my senior showcase display at my high school art show in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. Although I originate from a rural area, where art is under appreciated, I have found my passion for design through a network of supportive peers and educators, and plan to broaden that network at Penn State.
