SRU Art Alumni Exhibition open through April 14
Artwork from more than 20 Slippery Rock University alumni is currently on display in the Martha Gault Art Gallery, including John Seitz’s interactive sculpture titled “Encounter The Purpose of Living.”
March 31, 2022
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — If you walk through the Martha Gault Art Gallery at Slippery Rock University now through April 14, you'll find art from a variety of media, including ceramics, drawings, fiber arts, metals and paintings, and you might even "Encounter The Purpose of Living." That's the title of a mixed-media sculpture by John Seitz, who is one of more than 20 alumni who contributed to the SRU Art Alumni Exhibition, hosted by the SRU Art Department.
Seitz, a 1972 SRU graduate with a degree in secondary education-social studies, invites people to write notes about their time at SRU or inspirational quotes and pin them to his sculpture, which is a box that can be opened to reveal two hearts and other messages from Seitz.
WESTMAN
"So much artwork is just viewed without being deeply encountered," said Seitz, a resident of Ocala, Florida, who visited campus recently to submit his artwork. "I wanted to make something interactive. Once people experience it, start to think and open it up, they are on their own -- I've done my work."
The Art Department invited its alumni to contribute to the exhibition earlier this year with a $15 entry fee, which will be used to fund the Art Alumni Scholarship for a current SRU art student.
"This exhibit is a great opportunity for art alumni to reconnect and make new connections, as well as to showcase their work to our current students andour entire campus community," said Barbara Westman, professor of art, who organized the exhibition. "We're grateful for our alumni and proud to share their success, and having this event fund a scholarship for an art student is even more gratifying to everyone involved."
The exhibit, which opened March 23, will culminate with a reception at the gallery, 5-7 p.m., April 14, when the scholarship will be awarded.
"It's nice to come back and see the development of the students over the years and those who have professional or hobby careers," Seitz said. "This exhibit validates the Art Department in a lot of ways."
The Martha Gault Art Gallery is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, on the first floor of the Maltby Center, 108 Maltby Ave. More information about the SRU Art Department is available on the department's webpage.
MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu