Art faculty members participating in this year’s exhibition are Sarah Davis, Brian Fencl, James Haizlett, Martyna Matusiak, Moon Jung Kang, Rebecca Kiger, Lee Ann Thill, Nancy Tirone, Lambros Tsuhlares and Robert Villamagna. In addition, Dr. Matthew D. Harder, interim dean, College of Arts and Communication, will present a sound installation based on the exhibition theme.

“Each year the Art Faculty Exhibition features a theme and this year the art faculty selected the theme of “6 X 6 X 6,” said Gallery Director Robert Villamagna. “Artworks in the exhibition may be of any media and on any subject, however, each work must be no larger than six inches in any direction.”

“Having a new theme for the exhibition each year does a number of things,” he noted, “It brings a freshness to the annual exhibition, it challenges the members of the art faculty, and it shows students how a diverse group of artists each approach a single problem or idea each in their own unique way and in a variety of media. This year the “theme” is based on size.”

Here are just a few examples of what visitors to the exhibition will see:

Associate Professor of Creative Arts Therapy Lee Ann Thill explores the physical properties of paint as a metaphor for disease processes, combining it with collage imagery to illuminate the underlying mechanisms of the exploitation of The Other. Her work represents a visual commentary on interconnected social diseases that plague our culture.

Instructor of Graphic Design Sarah Davis created “Nest: The DNA of Making,” a composite of photographs of hand-made paper nests that explore our natural desire to mate and how animals (including humans) can develop and inherit ways of making that become coded within our DNA.

A sketchbook is normally a pad of blank pages for sketching. In Professor Villamagna’s “Sketchbook” the pages are individual 6”x6” pieces of wood, and each page contains images in a variety of media. Like a traditional sketchbook, Villamagna’s pages will be a documentation of the world around him, while other pages explore his creative process.

All exhibitions at the Nutting Gallery are free and open to the public and the gallery is open 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays; with evenings and weekends by arrangement. For additional information contact Villamagna at 304-336-8370 or at rvillama@westliberty.edu

JANUARY 16, 2015 BY MAUREEN ZAMBITO
Poster design by Sara Davis

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Professors Moon Kang, Sarah Davis, and James Haizlett brought WLU design students to the Pittsburgh AIGA letterpress lecture.

Design students and faculty braved the cold weather and terrible traffic to attend “Behind the Platen,” a Pittsburgh AIGA sponsored lecture and exhibition. Letterpress has seen a resurgence in recent years, and we were able to see examples of its use in contemporary design. Brandon Boan of Tip Type Design Studio was the principle lecturer. He purchased an old shop and is now experimenting with different forms of image making using antique tools and processes. Here are some examples of letterpress equipment and products.

Letterpress often imprints the design of letterforms and shapes into the paper, creating a texture that can’t be achieved through computer print processes.

Tip Type owns two linotype machines that cast molten lead letters into strings of words that are locked together, inked, and pressed into paper.

Examples of letterpress can be found everywhere these days. The process is favored by artists and enthusiasts who want an authentic hand made product.

Letterpress print shops have sprung up all over the US in recent years. Ten or fifteen years ago you couldn’t give away the equipment, because it was heavy, outdated, and nobody wanted it.

Join the hand made revolution! Find an old piece of equipment and experiment with it to produce interesting new forms of art!

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The art they created is varied and interesting, offering everything from a comic strip like artwork to interactive graphic design images with audio, video and sculpture. “This is one of the best senior shows we’ve had in a while. The students worked hard and I congratulate them on the result,” said Assistant Professor of Art Robert Villamagna, who is the director of the Nutting Gallery. All students created a formal artist statement to go with their artwork.

“The world is a very chaotic place. We are constantly in motion, at times eager to catch our breath. Sometimes it is easy to overlook the beauty of the world and to take for granted the wonder of life. I believe my job, as an artist, is to capture a moment, a memory, even a thought so that it can stand still and be appreciated without limits,” said Natalie Rees. Rees believes all art is a gift and allows her to create memories that will not fade. She is donating all money made from the sale of her art in the exhibition to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).

Artist Lindsey Fair created work that explores the theme of body image on social and personal levels. “It is truly unfortunate that our society’s standards of beauty is heavily directed and pressured by impossible beauty ideals… My artwork takes a critical view of the social views by which women’s body image is influenced,” Fair said. Using a variety of materials and processes in each piece of art, she creates a consistent message.

Student artist Miranda Pellicano created images that reveal personal values or ideals, created in mixed media pieces. “The collage of concepts, techniques and materials acts as an effective medium to showcase the growth I’ve experienced not only with this show, but also as a designer and artist,” Pellicano said.

Another student created a compelling and funny video about his student experience on the Hilltop. “Mine was a video self-portrait that looked at my time on campus. I tried to bring in student experiences and show my journey. Hopefully it’s entertaining and enjoyable,” said Fauble, who stars in the video that is just over nine minutes long. The only male artist in the show, Fauble graduates on Dec. 13 with a degree in graphic design. 

The exhibition remains on display through Friday, Dec. 12. The Nutting Gallery is located in the Media Arts Center building and is dedicated to educating, enriching and engaging students and the public through art exhibitions of the highest quality and to promoting the visual arts within the WLU community. The Gallery fulfills this mission through eight exhibitions during the academic year. The annual exhibition schedule includes five exhibitions by visiting artists, two Senior Exhibitions, and the Annual Art Faculty Exhibition.

The exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact rvillama@westliberty.edu or call 304-336-8370.

DECEMBER 8, 2014 BY MAUREEN ZAMBITO

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Maria Mangano is an artist whose work focuses on the intersection of nature, museums, and science to address issues of wildness, conservation, memory, and humanness. A native of Syracuse, NY, Mangano moved to Pittsburgh to attend Carnegie Mellon University. More of her work can be found on her website

Randy Yoho of Kanawha County, WV is an award of excellence winner from the West Virginia Division of Culture and adjunct lecturer in art around the Charleston area. His oversized woodcut prints focus on line reminiscent of topographical maps and are impressive for their scale and amount of labor involved.

Mission
The Nutting Gallery is dedicated to educating, enriching and engaging students and the public through art exhibitions of the highest quality and to promoting the visual arts within our community. The Gallery fulfills this mission through eight exhibitions during the academic year. This exhibition schedule includes five exhibitions by visiting artists, two Senior Exhibitions, and the Annual Art Faculty Exhibition. The Nutting Gallery is also dedicated to supporting the educational and cultural mission of West Liberty University. These offerings are supported by the Department of Art and Communications, and guided by the Gallery Director.

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Every fall, West Liberty University College of Arts and Communication graphic design seniors have a chance to experience the challenge of presenting their work to a discriminating audience.

The design presentation took place in the Boyle Conference Room from noon until 1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 17.

From left, Sydney Bennett, Jessica Wilson, Kylie Woyat, Chloe Woods, Alexis Irvin, Lucas Fauble, Miranda Pelicano, Elizabeth Pabst and Carly Jochumsen pose after the competition.

During the competition, student teams present their own team corporate identities as they prepare to do “business” with campus and community organizations. The teams provide examples of their past work and compete in packaging themselves as the strongest design team to the audience.

Student team names and members include:

Ebb and Flow Ink – Alexis Irvin, Miranda Pelicano and Chloe Woods.
Ethøs – Sydney Bennett, Jessica Wilson and Kylie Woyat.
We Must Design – Lucas Fauble, Carly Jochumsen and Elizabeth Pabst.

“This is a great chance for students to practice their communications skills and hone their message in front of a professional audience comprised of campus faculty, administration, and community leaders. It’s their first milestone on the way to working with real clients on community projects throughout the semester,” said Associate Professor James Haizlett.

Audience members were given scorecards to grade the students on their presentations and are given the opportunity to provide valuable critique. Haizlett then tallied up the votes to select the winning student team.

Audience members were given scorecards to grade the students on their presentations and are given the opportunity to provide valuable critique. Haizlett then tallied up the votes to select the winning student team, which was Ethøs. Team members from the winning group of students were from the towns of: Sydney Bennett, Follansbee, W.Va., Jessica Wilson, Mount Hope, W.Va. and Kylie Woyat, Norton, Ohio.

WLU graphic design program is a member of the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), the professional association for design. Established in 1988, AIGA Pittsburgh has more than 450 members.

For more information on the West Liberty University graphic design program, please visit: westliberty.edu/art or contact Haizlett at 304-336-8077.

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The Nutting Gallery is located in the Hall of Fine Arts on the campus of West Liberty University in West Liberty, WV. All exhibitions at the Nutting Gallery are free and open to the public. The gallery is open 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM weekdays; evenings and weekends by arrangement. For additional information contact Robert Villamagna at 304-336-8370 or at rvillama@westliberty.edu

Mission
The Nutting Gallery is dedicated to educating, enriching and engaging students and the public through art exhibitions of the highest quality and to promoting the visual arts within our community. The Gallery fulfills this mission through eight exhibitions during the academic year. This exhibition schedule includes five exhibitions by visiting artists, two Senior Exhibitions, and the Annual Art Faculty Exhibition. The Nutting Gallery is also dedicated to supporting the educational and cultural mission of West Liberty University. These offerings are supported by the Department of Art and Communications, and guided by the Gallery Director.

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Jamey Biggs grew up in Summersville, West Virginia. Biggs holds a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and a Bachelor of Science in Art education. He completed an MFA in Ceramics at Indiana State University in 2003. Biggs is an Associate Professor of Art at Concord University where he has instructed Ceramics and Sculpture for 10 years. Jamey’s work is primarily ceramic, addressing both sculptural and utilitarian purposes.

“I first saw Jamey’s work in a Facebook post that Lambros Tsuhlares shared with me a while back, “ said Robert Villamagna, Director of the Nutting Gallery. “The post was a photo of a Tonka-like truck made of clay. That ceramic truck took me back to the 1950s and 60s when I spent hours playing with the metal construction toys made by Buddy L and Tonka. I love the way Jamey exaggerates the components of these vehicles, and makes them even chunkier and heartier than the originals,” says Villamagna.

“I began making the trucks in 2012 for an exhibition curated by Robert Moore and Christine Humphrey in Beckley WV,’ states Biggs. “I was interested in creating work that would be light hearted in its expression and allow me to be light hearted during its creation. I was hoping to create work that was not explicitly related to my own experience and did not require a great deal of explanation for a viewer to find interest. I hoped that the idea of a toy truck was something that would elicit a response in most people with out consideration for age or background.”
Biggs says he felt it was also time for a change in his firing process. “I was looking for a relief from the wood firing that I had been doing,” states Biggs. “The wood fire process requires huge amounts of labor on the firing and is inherently very risky and slow. The earthenware fired in oxidation using an electric kiln could not be more opposite of firing in a wood kiln. The trucks do not reject the craft and utility aspects of ceramics but they do poke a bit of fun. The trucks are after all, functioning planters.”
Biggs says that he hopes the first thing the viewers take away from his work is a smile. “First and foremost the work is playful, says Biggs,. “I hope the piles of materials can evoke connections to hospitality, abundance, and humor. I consider the concept of abundance to be a good thing and it is connected to positive emotions, responses and behaviors. The idea of abundance is also connected to notions of scarcity and waste. I am curious to see if viewers find that this is evoked by the work or not.”
Jamey Biggs will also be presenting a four-hour workshop on Thursday, September 25, from 4 to 8 PM. A limited number of spaces for participants are available. Contact Robert Villamagna for more information.
All exhibitions at the Nutting Gallery are free and open to the public. The Nutting Gallery is open 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM weekdays; evenings and weekends by arrangement. For additional information contact Robert Villamagna at 304-336-8370 or at rvillama@westliberty.edu

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Matthew Inkster conducting members of the Berlin Philharmonic

Wheeling musician and educator Dr. Matthew Inkster traveled to Provence, France, to conduct 12 members of the Berlin Philharmonic – widely considered the world’s best orchestra. Inkster was one of only a handful of conductors worldwide to take part in the workshop, which is a joint project between the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University and musicians of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.  Other conductors were from Germany, Russia, Australia, Belgium, England, and the U.S.

“I am still so excited about this experience,” Inkster said. “The musicians coming from Berlin were themselves from six different countries, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Albania, Scotland, and Austria. This speaks to the universality of music, and their passion for the art and their own commitments to teaching from the conductor’s podium was a life-changing experience.”

The Conductors Lab is hosted by the Vanderbilt Center in Aix-en-Provence, France, and provides a weeklong cooperative learning environment for experienced conductors. Inkster had to submit a curriculum vitae and a 30-minute DVD of live performance work to be considered for the honor.

Participants conduct an ensemble of Berlin Philharmonic musicians and receive comments and critique in real-time directly from the musicians themselves. Unlike other workshops Inkster has attended in Colorado and Minnesota, the French lab has no master-conducting teacher. Instead, all feedback is contextualized in follow-up sessions between the musicians and participant conductors, offering conductors a rare opportunity for growth and improvement of skills.

Inkster, who also is the conductor of the , a post he’s held for the last eight years, is entering his 11th year as the director of instrumental activities and professor of music at West Liberty University where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and coordinates the brass area.

He is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician—most recently conducting honor and select groups in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, California and New York. He has specialized in conducting the music of our time, and he has led ensembles on several compact disc recordings of new music on American and European labels. His performances have been heard on national and regional NPR and worldwide on the BBC.

Inkster also is active as a trumpet soloist, recitalist and clinician and has performed in 45 states and across Europe. For 12 years, he was principal trumpet of the Symphony of the Mountains (Tennessee/Virginia), and he has held similar positions with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Chapman and Redlands Symphony Orchestras (Calif.). He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, and he has competed in a number of the most prestigious trumpet competitions across the world: the Prague Spring International Music Competition, the International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition, the National Trumpet Competition and the Music Teachers National Association’s National Collegiate Artist Competition.

Inkster is the West Virginia Music Educators Association Research and Grants chairman and has recently served as the composition contest chairman for the International Trumpet Guild.

He holds the degrees of Doctor of Music from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla., Master of Music from University of Redlands, Redlands, Calif., and Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo. Inkster also has taught in the public schools of Wyoming, California and Florida.

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West Liberty University’s Nutting Gallery presents the annual Art Faculty Exhibition Jan. 22 – Feb. 13, 2014. The entertaining exhibition will open with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 22 and the public is welcome to attend.

Art faculty members participating in this year’s exhibition are Sarah Davis, Brian Fencl, James Haizlett, Martyna Matusiak, Moon Jung Kang, Nancy Tirone, Lambros Tsuhlares, Robert Villamagna and Neal Warren.
“Each year the Art Faculty Exhibition features a theme and this year the art faculty selected the theme of dogs,” said Gallery Director Robert Villamagna.
“The dictionary defines dog as a domesticated carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and a barking, howling or whining voice.”
“The works in The Dog Show will cover a wide range of media including drawing, painting, mixed media, digital, construction, photography and installation. The faculty has worked their fingers to the bone in preparing for this exhibition, so it should prove to be a doggone good show.”

“Having a new theme for the exhibition each year does a number of things,” he added.
“It brings a freshness to the annual exhibition, it challenges the members of the art faculty, and it shows students how a diverse group of artists each approach a single problem or idea, each in their own unique way and in a variety of media.”
Plus, dogs are hugely popular and according to the , every dog has a distinct personality based on its breed. The AKC counts 178 breeds of man’s best friend now available.
The Department of Visual Arts is housed in the College of Arts and Communication and is led by college dean, Dr. William Baronak. There are currently more than 275 students enrolled in programs housed in the College of Arts and Communication.
The programs within the College have enjoyed growth in student enrollment by more than 20 percent over the last five years. For complete information, visit westliberty.edu/art.
All exhibitions at the Nutting Gallery are free and open to the public. The Nutting Gallery is open 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. weekdays; evenings and weekends by arrangement.
For additional information contact Robert Villamagna at 304-336-8370 or at rvillama@westliberty.edu

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