A “Meet the Artist” lecture series will start February 22, 2012, in conjunction with the Multiversity exhibition at the University Museum.

The exhibition features recent works in varied media by faculty members from the Department of Art. A number of those faculty members will present the lectures, which are free and open to the community. They will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the University Museum, on the first floor of John Sutton Hall.

The following lectures are planned:

  • February 22: “40 Years in a Half Acre Shop.” Alphonse Mattia, assistant professor of furniture, art, and design, will discuss if there is a dichotomy between functional and non-functional objects, if utility and usefulness are concepts, and his pieces in the exhibit.
  • February 28: “Contemporary Woodturning.” Steven Loar, director of the Center for Turning and Furniture Design, will illustrate the interplay between his personal artwork and his teaching of three-dimensional design.
  • March 1: “Painting as Illusion and Process.” Susan Palmisano, professor of painting and drawing, will survey her research into feminine identity through painting and will discuss the various thoughts, philosophical shifts, and artistic influences that have guided her process and work.
  • March 6: “Transformations.” Ivan Fortushniak, assistant professor of painting/foundations, will discuss how the gospel of Jesus Christ has influenced his art over the past 10 years.
  • March 8: “Ceramics Form and Content.” Kevin Turner, assistant professor of ceramics, will discuss the ceramic work in the exhibit and how the shape, form, and content developed and evolved with regard to influences and previous experiences.
  • March 20: “I Did It Myself!” Marjorie Mambo, associate professor of art education, examines how young children with a range of autism spectrum disorders made and used puppets in a series of lessons. The use of puppets as vehicles for artistic and social learning will also be discussed.
  • March 22: “O Range Rover.” Robert Sweeny, associate professor of art education, will discuss his installation piece, the artistic and cultural influences that led to its creation, and the process of working in a site-specific manner.

Other Department of Art faculty members with work featured in the Multiversity exhibit are Richard Ciganko, Sean Derry, George Dubinsky, Andrew Gillham, Kyle Houser, Irene Kabala, Maura Keeney, Lynda LaRoche, Fuyuko Matsubara, Martyna Matusiak, Stephanie McNabb, Brenda Mitchell, and Penny Rode.

Multiversity will be available through March 24. The University Museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2:00 to 6:30 p.m., Thursdays from noon to 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free.