Attendees check out works at the meet-the-artists reception for the new Penn State Lehigh Valley Community Gallery exhibition, “Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Capstone in Fine Arts Exhibition: Lost and Found,” on display now through March 18.
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Community Gallery recently hosted a meet-the-artists reception for its current exhibition spotlighting the works of students from Lehigh Carbon Community College.
Titled “Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Capstone in Fine Arts Exhibition: Lost and Found,” the exhibit is on display now through March 18 in the gallery.
At the reception, a number of campus and local community members admired the unique assortment of works produced by LCCC students Olivia Allison, Rachael Bath, Quinn Benner, Amber Coleman, Alyssa Dominguez, Kira Kuehner, Alexus Tewold and Biancarosa Vargas, as well as LCCC art faculty member Jeremy Siedt.
As a fun, interactive addition to the exhibit, attendees were also invited to participate in a scavenger hunt of objects in the displayed art works.
The students’ works range from acrylics and oils to digital and even video. Siedt said the “Lost and Found” theme is a play on the various trials and triumphs that mark a young person’s life.
“They’re now at that point in their lives where they understand who they are, but they find themselves at the doorway of this next new threshold. What will it be?” Siedt said. “Maybe they become lost again in that moment, or a bit overwhelmed. But, that loss always leads to this perpetual motion of being found through those experiences and that gained knowledge. There are always new challenges, and how you face them is how you find yourself.”
Siedt initially approached PSU-LV Arts Coordinator and Gallery Director Ann Lalik with the idea of giving his capstone students the opportunity to curate, install and promote their own exhibit.
“I thought the Community Gallery was the perfect space, since the mission of this gallery is to showcase students and young artists from around the Lehigh Valley,” Lalik said. “I am so impressed with the passion and creativity these eight students have brought to the experience. They also conceived of the idea to include the interactive component of a scavenger hunt to help the viewer experience their work more deeply.”
The exhibit came together after the fall semester, so Siedt relied on Kuehner to help him facilitate the project and collect the other students’ works.
“It was a lot of fun, and it’s great to be part of a curated show at a gallery like this,” said Kuehner, who has three pieces in the exhibit.
“It’s a great opportunity for the students, and we thank Penn State Lehigh Valley for hosting us,” Siedt added. “Ann has been nothing short of phenomenal to work with, and the students and I really appreciate her and this opportunity.”
For additional information on the exhibition, contact Lalik at [email protected] or 610-285-5261. Or, visit lehighvalley.psu.edu/gallery.
Gallery hours at the Community Gallery are Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For additional hours, call 610-285-5078.
