In Honor of Penn State Brandywine's 40th Anniversary, experienced artists and dabblers are painting over 80 lions, most of which are going to be auctioned off at the Gala on May 10, 2008 at the Aronimink Gulf Club. The proceeds will go towards student scholarships at Penn State Brandywine. Professor Connie Kirker assisted us, Alyce DiLauro and Teron Meyers, by providing all the artists' contact information in order to receive biographies and information about their art pieces and lion designs, which is further encompassed in this blog.
All the information was filtered and displayed underneath various artwork at the Lion-Art Exhibition on October 20th - November 2nd, 2007. From 4 - 6 pm on October 20th, several artists came and discussed with one another various artwork that was displayed, as well as their own pieces and lion designs.
Below are photos from the event:
Title: BS,O,2,6,a, & BS,O,2,6,b (diptych)
Medium: Printmaking (etching/drypoint)
Size: framed: 10 x 10 inches (about)
Inspiration: Repetition. I’ve been working with this form for a few years, and it’s manifested itself most in my prints.
Facts about the Artist:
Madeline is from Philadelphia, PA, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. After graduation, she taught English in Japan for two years, where I learned a lot about Japanese culture and language. I completed my Master of Fine Arts in Washington DC at the American University in 2004. I returned to Philadelphia after spending a year in Boulder CO, and it’s good to be home. All these different towns, cities and lifestyles have influenced my work in their own specific ways.
I am mostly drawn to the use of paint and color and compositions of the early to mid 20th century, most specifically Richard Diebenkorn, Wassily Kandinsky, and Max Beckmann to name a few. I’m also drawn to the skills of old Dutch painters and printmakers.
I am currently experimenting with various types of printmaking (lithography, etching, etc) and am continuing to paint. My work is abstract, layering and juxtaposing organic forms with more geographic ones. I experiment with layers, opacity and color to reach a final product – in both my prints and paintings.
Why Paint a Lion? Madeline states, “I chose to participate because it will be a challenge to paint a 3-d object! I normally do not plan my images out before attempting them, as they tend to change mid-process. I plan to “attack” the lion as I do my canvas: intuitively and abstractly.”
URL: www.madelineadams.com.
Contact: adamsmadeline@yahoo.com
Title: Cancer
Medium: Etching
Size: 22” x 24” without frame
Inspiration: Several members of my family have been affected by cancer.
Facts about the Artist: Christine was born in Cleveland, OH and grew up in Louisville, KY. She earned a BFA with a major in Printmaking is from the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Christine moved to Philadelphia in 1988 and received my Masters of Art Education from Tyler School of Art.
She was taught at Greene Street Friends School from 1990 – 1996. She has been teaching at Springfield High School (Ceramics and Sculpture) since 1996. She states, “I have a deep and abiding interest in sculpture; especially subtractive sculpture in stone and wood….it melds well with my background in etching and dry point.”
Why Paint a Lion? Christine adds, “I chose to participate in this project because I wanted to support a school that is attended by many of my students.”
Contact: beltochr@ssd.k12.pa.us
Terry was influenced early in life by her grandfather, Norwegian painter, Edward Hiortdahl. She was born and educated in Pennsylvania and attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where she studied under notable artists such as John McCoy, Maurice Blackburn, Hobson Pitman, Jack Bookbinder and Harry Rosen. Her studies at the academy have enabled her to work in most medium.s She is an alumni member of Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Philadelphia Water Color Club, The Art League, and Network, a critique group. Presently, she is a board member of the Philadelphia Water Color Club, and Jenkin's Arboretum. In previous years, she has served on the board of the Wayne Art Center, the Community Garden Club, and Jenkins Arboretum where she chaired three art shows and a huge watering can exhibit. She has received numerous awards in local and regional shows, and is represented in many private, and business collections.
Facts about the Arists:
Maxine and her daughter will be painting a lion together.
Kirsten (Burkholder) Lusska is currently the Manager of Creative
Services and Branding for PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission
organization, ensuring the reliability of the electric power supply system in 13 states and the District of Columbia. Previously she was the Creative Director for McLaughlin & Morgan, a Philadelphia-based advertising agency. She holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Syracuse University.
Maxine Shall Burkholder has a BS in Chemistry from PSU. Now retired, she worked as a chemist, later as Controller of Upper Providence
Township, but also worked as a professional artist for over 40 years. An award winning painter and art quilter, she has taught various media over the years, and currently runs the jewelry workshop at the Wallingford Community Arts Center. She also teaches quilting classes at JoAnn's Fabrics.
Facts about the Artist:
Jacqueline Cornette was born in Perth Amboy, NJ. She has lived in New York, Virginia and most recently Pennsylvania. She holds a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She has balanced successful careers as a professional exhibiting fine artist and as a creative director in advertising over 15 years. After the success of her first solo university show and the birth of her son in 2002, she has devoted her career exclusively to the fine art of encaustic painting. In 2003, Jacqueline relocated her studio just south of Philadelphia, to Chester County. Today, Jacqueline exhibits nationally and resides on the board of directors at the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show in Philadelphia, PA. She also serves as President + Co-founder of the International Encaustic Association - East Coast Chapter.
Jacqueline Cornette's body of work is produced in encaustic; a combination of waxes and pigments that are applied in a molten state, then ultimately fused with high heat for permanency. Encaustic, which means to "burn in", is an ancient Greek painting form dating back to the 5th century B.C. Cornette uses as many as 40 pigmented wax layers that are scraped, sculpted and layered again, eventually giving way to a textural, luminous painting. Cornette's paintings feature massive, sculptural fruits, flowers and vegetables. Although this subject matter may seem ordinary, its sheer size and boldness, highlighted by dramatic compositions with a background of luminous textural pigmented waxes, give the subject an extraordinary presence.
Facts about the Artist:
"A most colorful translation of the not-so-everyday elements
of our everyday life."
Expressions like this have been used to describe the work of artist
Jason Crook, a native of Western North Carolina who has resided in the
Philadelphia neighborhood of Northern Liberties for the last 11 years.
Crook's style is eclectic, and challenging to label. He has an affinity for
giving reality a truly animated feel. The subjects of his works are
limited only by his imagination; his art frequently fuses abstract ideas
with elements of popular culture. Crook's works are primarily acrylics on canvas, though he frequently adds elements of mixed media to provide additional texture and intrigue to the finished piece.
In 2003, Crook founded PHAG (Philadelphia Home Art Garden), an award-winning retail boutique in Center City Philadelphia specializing in truly unique home furnishings, art, home decor, and gifts. The boutique was expanded to a full-scale showroom at 1225 Walnut Street early in 2007.
URL: www.thephagshop.com.
Title: Seattle in the Rain
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: estimate 14’ x 20’
Inspiration: It was the culminating piece of my 12 piece - high school International Baccalaureate Senior Thesis Exhibit. My study was of man made architecture vs. natural architecture. This painting is of the Seattle skyline in the rain…the man-made structures that create stiff lines and boxy figures against the night sky line are broken up into natural, organic shapes by the rain pouring down the window. It’s from the view of inside looking out.
Facts about the Artist: Kate is a recent graduate of the University of Richmond, with degrees in Environmental Studies and Studio Art. She currently attends the University of Delaware as a graduate student in the Masters for Energy and Environmental Policy program. The vibrancy of colors and spontaneity of the natural world have always inspired my artwork; nature may not always be the subject of my art, but it will always be my muse.
Why Paint a Lion? Kate states, “It is a great privilege to unite my art with the outstanding traditions of PSU and everything that is the soul of the Nittany Lion. My design came to me in the middle of the night, literally, as I was reading an article about sustainable environments for my Energy Policy and Administration class. I dropped everything and began to sketch out my plans. I chose my particular design, the back-packing lion (unofficial title), because it embodies my love for the outdoors and my desire to inspire conservation of the environment through art. I thought it was also a fitting design because Pennsylvania and especially Delaware County have many outstanding areas to explore and enjoy nature.”
Title: I have no arms.
Facts about the Artist: Kathy Dobash is from Havertown, PA. She is an abstract expressionist. Dobash opened her new business, Beauty Flower Poem in Hazleton, PA. Beauty Flower Poem will donate 5% of profit from the sale of I Have No Arms to RAINN. This book of eight poems and eight paintings focuses on recovery from traumatic experiences. The images are abstract renderings of women in landscape and interior settings. The poems reflect a woman's journey of healing.
URL: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=19418
Contact: beautyflowerpoem@excite.com
Title: One Love, One Heart
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size of artwork: 18” x 24”
Inspiration: “Music is one of my greatest passions. I've always been so intrigued with the life stories of Bob Marley. I started this painting on a hot summer day, played his music in the background. It was a very relaxing experience…”
Facts about the Artist: Born and raised in Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, her mother was her greatest influence. Her artistic talents pushed her to think in an innovative light. Jenny believes this is apparent in all aspects of her life now, not just in an artistic sense. She loves analyzing pieces from the Renaissance artists like Botticelli and Michelangelo. She also enjoys the Pop Art era and the infamous work of Roy Lichtenstein. She enjoys painting with acrylics and creating pencil/pen sketches.
Why Paint a Lion? Another lion painter, Ardyth Sobyak, who is a friend of hers, recommended it to anyone who has a knack for art, so she obliged. Since she is the ultimate beach bum, she plans on painting a beach landscape on the lion. Also, she thinks her lion would be a great addition for any PSU alum’s beach house on the Jersey shore.
Contact: jenny.franks@gmail.com
