The Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center is excited to announce an opening reception for the February 2024 Main Gallery exhibit, “Fortified” by members of the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Visual Arts.  Over the course of the past few years, the campuses of Mansfield, Lock Haven, and Bloomsburg Universities have gone through a process of integration, creating the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. The art faculty members from the three campuses have taken this as a chance to draw strength from each other, to fortify the Department of Visual Arts into a great resource for all of rural central Pennsylvania. This exhibit features photographs, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, prints, fiber, and mixed media from many of the professors at the three campuses. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, February 10^th from 2-4PM. Light refreshments will be served at the reception, which is free and open to the public.

The Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Department of Visual Arts presents a vast array of disciplinary tracks with works by Chad Andrews, Alan Bennett, Jason Bronner, Kenneth Cobb, Meredith Grimsley, Vince Hron, Dave Kube, Ron Lambert, Michelle Lockwood, Vance McCoy, and John McKaig. Each of the faculty members has selected several artworks created within the past five years to exhibit at the Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center with examples in Drawing, Ceramics, Fabric Design, Graphic Design, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture being presented. The variety of styles and disciplines is a delight to see all together in the Gmeiner’s open floor gallery setting and highlights the strength of the newly formed Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Department of Visual Arts offerings and its talented faculty.

The faculty members at the Commonwealth’s three campuses strive to develop tomorrow’s artists while continuing to hone their own craft. Working in a wide range of media, they explore themes of identity, culture, and place with the pieces in this exhibit. Visitors to the exhibit will be treated to cutting edge examples of artistic expression. Many of the faculty members will be at the opening reception, if visitors would like to speak with them individually about their work.

The Gmeiner is open from 12-6PM Tuesdays through Sundays and is located at 134 Main Street in Wellsboro behind the Green Free Library. Admission to the gallery is free. For further information contact Carrie at 570-724-1917 or director@gmeinerartculturalcenter.org.