By Sydnee McConnell
Staff writer
During the fall semester, Ivyside juried exhibitions are shown in the Miscaigna Family Center for Performing Arts. Ivyside juried exhibitions are professional artists who submit their work to be shown in Misciagna to a committee at Penn State Altoona said Kylea Myers, the theatre and gallery coordinator at the Misciagna. Since these are juried exhibitions, that means it is competitive and an artist’s artwork might not be chosen to be shown even though they submitted it.
“They apply to an open call and then the gallery committee goes through and rates them on a scale. And then whoever is rated the highest after all of the committee has rated are the ones who are invited to come and exhibit with us,” said Myers.
The artist’s work is then set up in either McLanahan or the Sheetz Art Gallery, which are both housed in Misciagna. Myers stated that Ivyside juried exhibitions run for six to eight weeks said Myers. She also said that there is not a set number of pieces that an artist has in their exhibits. There is a range from six pieces of art to 40 pieces, it all depends on the artists and what type of art they create. The number of visitors depends on the type of events held in Misciagna.
One of the artists whose artwork is being exhibited right now is Taylor Pilote. Pilote is an artist currently living in Philadelphia, but he is originally from Ontario, Canada. Pilote’s exhibition is called “Unplucked Gems,” which features artwork inspired by automotive culture. His artwork features pieces that replicate the look and feel of the outside of a car and car tires using many different forms of mixed media.
“The faux fluid car skins carry an intentional paradox. They provide a fleeting illusion of life to a surface marked by the passage of time and the inevitability of withering demise,” said Pilote when he described his artwork.
The other type of artwork shown in Misciagna is student artwork. The student artwork is usually shown during the spring semester. Students who exhibit their artwork are visual art studies students, also known as VAST students. VAST students exhibit their artwork for their final project before they graduate.
VAST student’s exhibits will run for two to six weeks depending on the number of graduating seniors there are said Myers. The VAST students set up their exhibits themselves in one of the two art galleries.
The galleries are open from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
For more information about juried exhibitions and how to submit your artwork to be shown, go to https://altoona.psu.edu/story/61766/2023/11/30/penn-state-altoona-offers-open-call-artwork-regional-students.