More pictures from the UAA St. Louis trip

Department of Art Student Wins National Competition

"By using Pittsburg State University ROTC pictures I depicted the transformation of a cadet as they went from civilian to Officer." - Anson Pruneda

Thanks to the work of a talented student artist, PSU ROTC will soon have one mean, tricked-out machine to drive around over the coming year. Anson Pruneda, a senior art major who works as a student administrative assistant in the Department of Military Science, has won a national competition to design a vehicle wrap for a Humvee. Because Pruneda won, PSU ROTC will have the use of the Humvee, complete with Pruneda's design, for a year.

Pruneda said it doesn't bother him that he won't be the one behind the wheel.

"I got to design something that goes ON A HUMMER!" Pruneda said "It's one of the biggest, broadest canvases out there, besides a van or a box truck. I also got a lot of satisfaction out of doing the design because I never thought about creating anything like that before. Now that it's actually going to be printed and applied, it makes me want to do more."

Pruneda gives some of the credit for the success of his design, which he calls "Evolution of an Officer," to Shirley Beer, human resources assistant for the department. "Shirley actually came up with the idea for the theme," Pruneda said.

The design, which covers both sides and the front and rear portions of the vehicle, includes photographs of various aspects of an ROTC cadet's life, culminating in a salute delivered at commissioning.

Lt. Col. Don Stoner, chairman of the Military Science Department, said the combination of the vehicle and Pruneda's design will make an excellent recruitment tool.

"Anson did a great job capturing the spirit and pride of the Army ROTC Gorilla Battalion," Stoner said.

Pruneda said he understands the wrap is in the process of being fabricated and applied to the vehicle, which should be delivered before he graduates in May.

"I'm just super stoked that its going to be on a vehicle and I'll get to touch it and feel it and see my work roll around campus," Pruneda said.

A weekend in St Louis

Dr. Li-Lin Tseng (UAA Faculty Advisor) with students

 Students in the University Art Association visited St. Louis this weekend. The trip was subsidized with funds raised from their annual art auction, held earlier this year. 

Celebration in Porter Hall

Dr. Li-Lin Tseng (PSU Dept. of Art's Art Historian) speaking about the Hot - Cold faculty exhibition

Listening to Dr. Tseng's Talk

In the Harry Krug Gallery,  Collective Fusion Exhibition

In the University Gallery, Hot - Cold Faculty Exhibition

KOAM News coverage of Open House 

Thursday night's festivities were a big success. People from many areas of the Pittsburg State University community were in attendance to celebrate the recent renovations to Porter Hall. The construction span two years and many different people came forward to make sure art was still being made and students were still provided an environment accessible for learning during that time.

“They’ve updated so many things, and we thought we should highlight that,” said Jamie Oliver, associate professor in art. “We wanted to have an event for the people who remembered the building previously, to show them everything that has been done.”

The Open House highlighted the personal work of art faculty, the artistic creations of the PSU community, as well as show off the $2.2 million in building updates (including new paint and lighting, windows and doors, roofing and mechanical systems).  The celebration also included remarks from Randy Roberts, PSU University archivists, and Dr. Li-Lin Tseng, PSU Art Historian,  as well as music by Reena Natenberg and Patrick Howle, Luis Reyes at the piano.  Quartet performance with Ramiro Miranda, Stephen Gedert, violins; Luis Reyes, viola; Irene Diaz Gill, cello.

 “For me, this is one of our highlights of the year,” said Art Chairwoman Rhona Shand, whose work in digital mixed media will be on display. “This isn’t bringing in a world-renowned artist, but it’s seeing who is an artist in our community. This opening is a way to say thank you and see some special gifts from the people sharing their work with us.There are so many people that are coming out of the woodwork to exhibit with us and show what they do and then it is also just a great celebration of PSU.”

If you were not able to make it out on Thursday, "Hot-Cold" runs through April 7th amd "Collective Fusion" runs through April 12th. 

“Hot-Cold” a show displaying the recent works of faculty members Rhona Shand, Marjorie Schick, Malcolm E. Kucharski, James Oliver and S. Portico Bowman, will run in the University Gallery.

“Collective Fusion” a show including works by multiple PSU faculty, staff and friends of the gallery, will be displayed in the Harry Krug Gallery. The exhibit will  featuring the artwork of, Cynthia Allan, Mark Barnes, Helen Beare, Jill Campbell Debbi Fischer, Steve Ford, Dave Gordon, Lindell Haverstic, Roy Janisch, Larry Jump, Harry Krug, Suzanne Lindsay, Phil McNew, James McBain, Ann Meats, Camille Olcese, Holly Page, Nikki Patrick, Chuck Rickel, Russ Rosmait, Paul Smith, and Rebecca White.

Visual Territory's Exhibition Closes

PSU's biannual national juried exhibition, Visual Territory, was brought to a close Friday night.  A premier event for the University Gallery, the exhibit gathered artists around from around the United States to investigate “the intimate territories of personal experience and the global landscape of place and environment. This year’s juror was Sherry Leedy.

Since 1985, Sherry Leedy has championed the Kansas City art scene as owner and director of Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art. Leedy has highlighted critically acclaimed artists, as well as emerging talent, in over 200 gallery exhibitions. In addition to the gallery’s prominence in Kansas City, it has a national presence through its participation in prestigious international art fairs, including Art Chicago, SOFA Chicago and New York. Sherry Leedy holds an MFA degree from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute, Missouri. She is a past recipient of a National Endowment for the Art/Mid Ameircan Arts Alliance Fellowship and her personal artwork is held in various public collections including the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, Kansas.

Juror's Selection Cash Award - Ariel Bowman

Mission Clay Purchase Prize - John Utgaard

Solo Exhibition Award - Amy Kligman, Misha Kligman 

Honorable Mention - Melissa Wilkinson

Thank you to Bryan Vansell for the $500.00 Mission Clay Purchase Prize, and to Dr. Steve Ford - PSU Biology, Harry Krug Professor Emeritus PSU Art Department, Dr. John Franklin – PSU English, and Helen G. Beare for their generous financial support towards the Juror’s Selection Cash Award.

KOAM TV interview

PSU Art Education Instructor is nationally recognized for her work...

Congratulations to Dr. Sunghee Choi (Art Education). Dr. Choi has been selected to receive Runner Up for the 2011 Elliot Eisner Doctoral Research Award in Art Education. This prestigious award is given through national and international competition, by NAEA (National Art Education Association).

"There is no greater testament of Dr. Choi's scholarship and the many exemplary contributions she will make to the field of visual arts education than being chosen for this prestigious award. Dr. Choi's colleagues throughout the United States and abroad join the NAEA Board of Directors in applauding her leadership, commitment and service to the profession. "
- Deborah B. Reeve, EdD (Executive Director of the National Art Education Association)

The award will be presented to Dr. Choi during the 2011 NAEA National Convention in Seattle, Washington on Saturday, March 19, 2011.

You are officially invited...

Collective Fusion: A Salon Style Non-Juried Exhibition by the Faculty, Staff and Friends of the Gallery at Pittsburg State University.

Collective Fusion: A Salon Style Non-Juried Exhibition by the Faculty, Staff and Friends of the Gallery at Pittsburg State University.

Collective Fusion 2

Harry Krug Gallery:  March 10 – April 12, 2011
Opening Reception:  March 10: 5:00 – 8:00 pm.
 The Pittsburg State University Art Department is pleased to host this exhibit featuring the artwork of, Cynthia Allan, Mark Barnes, Helen Beare, Jill Campbell Debbi Fischer, Steve Ford, Dave Gordon, Lindell Haverstic, Roy Janisch, Larry Jump Harry Krug, Suzanne Lindsay, Phil McNew, James McBain, Ann Meats, Camille Olcese, Holly Page, Nikki Patrick, Chuck Rickel, Russ Rosmait, Paul Smith, and Rebecca White.
 A non-juried salon style exhibit roughly interpreted means “if they bring it, we’ll hang it” until we run out of wall or floor space. The only restriction is in regards to size and the amount so that we have room for everyone, although typically “salon-style” means the work is hung vertically, ceiling to floor, as well as around the perimeter of the gallery.
 This promises to be an exciting event as we see the range of artistic talent that inhabits many of the buildings and offices at PSU besides those of us teaching and working in the art department.  The opening and reception will coincide with the Open House in Porter Hall March 10, 2011 from 5:00 – 8:00pm, and the PSU Biannual Art Department Faculty exhibit.

Welcome!

We are excited to share all the wonderful things happen at Pittsburg State University's Department of Art. You can look forward to posts about departmental events, current student, faculty and alumni news. If you have news or things you would like to see on the blog please contact the Department's Art Office at Rhona E Shand  or Jolene K Robinson.

I encourage you to also check our website, the web address is located in the links section of the blog. It is a great resource for further information about our department.