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The sixth Penn State Altoona Kjell Meling Award for Distinction in the Arts and Humanities was presented to Harvey Pekar, internationally-renowned comic-book author, jazz critic, and commentator on American society, on October 5. The ceremonial bowl was once again created by Rebecca Strzelec.
Rebecca Strzelec's Mourning (cuff bracelet) from "Baseball in Three Parts" 2008 included in Marjorie Simon's article Objects of Remembrance Contemporary Mourning Jewerlry in Metalsmith Magazine VOL. 25/No. 5/2009.
Penn State Altoona gifts Cross Section 6 brooch from Rebecca Strzelec's 2005-2006 series, Army Green Orchids to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Read more about her visit to campus here.
Rebecca is named Conference Chair for SIGGRAPH 2012 in a city to be determined! Stay tuned for conference updates.
Rebecca is selected as a Penn State Institute for Arts and Humanities Resident Scholar for Spring 2010. This opportunity provides both space and time to complete a major project. For Rebecca this means another semester to dedicate enitirely to her new work tentatively called "The Age of Bears" which will ensue with the start of her sabbatical in Fall 2009.
2009 Exhibitions include:
Next Iconoclasts, Hoffman Gallery, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Curated by Gail M. Brown. January 15-February 22
A invitational show curated by independent curator Gail M. Brown, Next Iconoclasts showcases emerging artists from a national body of makers through their explorations in clay, fibers, glass, metal, wood and mixed media.
Decorative Resurgance, Rowan University Art Gallery, Glassboro, NJ, April 20-May 28
"Decorative Resurgance" is a juried exhibition focused on contemporary metalwork and jewelry inspired by historical ornamentation and decoration. Work in the show references historical decorative metalwork, jewelry, functional and non-functional objects, architecture, textile patterns, and/or processes.
Master of Fine Arts Alumni Exhibition 1969-2009, Tyler MFA Alumni Exhibition, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia PA, Curated by Vickie Sedman, May-June
This exhibition will display the diverse accomplishments of the Tyler Alumni.
rEvolution: 100 Years of Teaching Jewelry and Metalsmithing at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia Art Alliance, Curated by Sharon Church and Rod McCormick, May 14-July 26
rEvolution will highlight the work of all the artists that have taught at UArts over the years.
Jewelry in Motion, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Curated by Gail M. Brown, May 21, 7:30-10:30 PM
Sponsored by the Women's Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show and SNAG. This special evening event includes: "Jewelry in Motion," a fashion show coordinated by Gail M. Brown
NEOTERIC MATTER- New Studio Jewelry, Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia, Curated by Daniella Kerner, May-June
The exhibition, juried by Daniella Kerner, Associate Professor, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, will focus on jewelry that is primarily comprised of new 21st century materials or late 20th century materials, and their related processes, that have significantly influenced the field of jewelry. A few examples of new materials include: polymers, materials used in rapid proto-typing, electronics, Precious Metal Clay, new metal alloys, and composite materials.
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The fourth Penn State Altoona Kjell Meling Award for Distinction in the Arts and Humanities was presented to Mk Haley, Director of Digital Design for the Disney-ABC Television Group’s Digital Media team, on October 9. The ceremonial bowl was created by Rebecca Strzelec.
Rebecca Strzelec's work accepted into Museum of Arts and Design's permanent collection! Read the Penn State Altoona press release here.
Rebecca Strzelec earns tenure and promotion, at the rank of associate professor, from Penn State Altoona.
The third Penn State Altoona Kjell Meling Award for Distinction in the Arts and Humanities was presented to Sandra Petrulionis, the first internal recipient, professor of English and American Studies at Penn State Altoona. The ceremonial bowl was created by Rebecca Strzelec.
Rebecca co-organizes SNAG 2008 Education Dialogue in Savannah.
Five pieces from the Army Green Orchids Series will be on display as part of SCHMUCK 2008 in Munich Germany. The internationally juried exhibition will feature 59 jewelers from 21 countries. Rebecca Strzelec is one of two Americans. "This special exhibition is the eldest exhibition of contemporary jewelry work in the world. It takes place since 1959 every year during the International Trade Fair in March. The high standards and stunning inventiveness of its participants turn the international special show SCHMUCK into a renowned show case for trends in jewellery art world wide. The selection is made by a distinguished jewellery teacher changing every year." -SCHMUCK
Penn State Altoona purchases abandoned church for the new Visual Art Studies program!
2008 Exhibitions include:
Slices Invitational, Clark Gallery at the University of Texas Pan American, Curated by Donna Sweigart. April 17-May 9
Craft making has evolved with the discovery of new materials and technologies. The development of human societies has historically been categorized by metalwork. As artisans, we adapted and evolved through many different stages which have grown shorter in length over time. This exhibition is a collection of works by “metalsmiths” working in a digital manner with alternative materials. The show will be held in the Clark Gallery at the University of Texas Pan American, within a culturally diverse region, on the border of Mexico and the United States.
Vested Interest, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Curated by Lena Vigna. May 25-September 6
This large group exhibition features contemporary artists that explore the complex dynamic between adornment and sociopolitical issues—artists that ruminate on, and perhaps offer challenges to, the status quo. Several artists create wearable garments and accessories that highlight their concerns about contemporary political and social conflict. Others use dress as a way to touch on larger issues of labor, production, community, power, and individual identity.
Neoteric Matter-New Studio Jewelry, Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences. Curated by Daniella Kerner. August 1-September 25
This groups exhibition will focus on jewelry that is primarily comprised of new 21st century materials, or late 20th century materials (and related processes), that have significantly influenced the field of jewelry.
Treasury of Digital Form, Galerie Handwerk, Munich Germany. September 5-October 4
This international invitational exhibition "will be devoted to illustrating the diverse areas of application, processes, and effects connected with the use of computers in the crafts and applied arts. A selection of innovative designers in the areas of photography, computer graphics, jewellery, ceramics, and textiles will indicate that, with the aid of the latest tools, today's design is on the path to a new, contemporary visual language, and that this involves changes in working methods as well."
CADlabORATION, Winthrop University Galleries, September 12-October 24
This exhibition will present a collection of collaboratively designed objects utilizing CAD technology. The exhibition is coordinated by a group of artists and educators who have formed their own cooperative organization, CADlaboration. These artists are simultaneously exploring emerging technologies, contemporary crafts education, and collaborative design and production.
Girls Play Games, Facere Art Jewelry Gallery, Seattle Washington, Curated by Gail Brown. October 1-25
"Nine women who make jewelry are each asked to create a group of unique, wearable pieces in her own visual vocabulary employing media we have come to associate with her, motivated by the specific challenge of games and play."--Gail Brown
The Pendant Show, Celebrating 500 Pendants & Lockets by Lark Books, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco CA. October 29-November 30
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August 15, 2007 Adam Vorlicek and Rebecca Strzelec get married!
Strzelec's piece “Most days she dreams of being a tree” is part of the Art of the Martini show at ZaRUBa & ZaRUBA December 2007.
The second Penn State Altoona's Kjell Meling Award for Distinction in the Arts and Humanities was presented to Walter Everett, a leading scholar in the fields of musicology and music theory. The ceremonial bowl was created by Rebecca Strzelec.
Rebecca Strzelec is Conference Arts Director for SIGGRAPH 2008 in Los Angeles, CA.
Strzelec's piece Octane is part of the Anti-War Medals show September 2007 at the Thomas Mann Gallery in New Orleans.
SIGGRAPH 2007 begins August 5th in San Diego. Rebecca is Chair of the Guerilla Studio, one of the most popular conference venues.
Phil Carrizzi and Rebecca Strzelec's essay "Whither One of a Kind?" has been selected as part of the 3rd International Conference on Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping in Portugal.
Rebecca Strzelec named Program Coordinator for Penn State Altoona's brand new degree, Visual Art Studies.
Rebecca Strzelec featured in Altoona Mirror article State of the Art as the traveling exhibition Outside the Centers/On the Edge makes its final stop at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Loretto, PA through September 30.
Army Green Orchids included in the Richmond, Virginia exhibition Radius 250.
The exhibition Virtual/Tangible v2.0 features new work by Rebecca as well as others creating through computer aided technologies. Curated by Douglas Bucci and Matthew Hollern, the show opens on January 24 at Velvet Da Vinci in San Francisco and runs through March 4.
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Sharon Elaine Thompson's article "Craft at a Crossroads" in the December 2006 Lapidary Journal magazine features excerpts from an interview with Rebecca as well as images of recent work from her Shorthand Series and Army Green Orchids series. 
Pulitzer Prize winning Author Richard Russo (Mohawk, The Risk Pool, Nobody's Fool, EmpireFalls, and Straight Man) is the first to receive Penn State Altoona's Kjell Meling Award for Distinction in the Arts and Humanities. The award, a computer aided designed and rapid prototyped bowl, was created by Penn State Altoona faculty member Rebecca Strzelec. The bowl was built via the stereolithography process through a generous donation from ProtoCAM. The ceremony, was held on October 10 and included a reading by Russo.
Rebecca Strzelec's solo exhibition "Army Green Orchids" will be exhibited at Velvet Da Vinci in San Francisco from September 7- October 15. Rebecca will be giving a lecture about her work at Velvet Da Vinci on September 28 at 6:30pm.
Rebecca Strzelec's work can also be seen in "Liberty and Security in a Post 9/11 World" an exhibition at Drury University's Pool Art Center. The exhibition was juried by writer Peter Clothier and runs from September 8- October 3.
Two of Rebecca Strzelec's sculptures are included in "MicroMonumentals". This traveling exhibition of work no larger than 5 x 3 x 2 inches will visit The Brush Art Gallery in Lowell, Massachusetts and Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia. The show will continue on to other venues through 2008. Read more about the exhibition here.
Strzelec's Cross Section #2 Brooch is featured on the cover of the new Palgrave Macmillian book Postmodern Humanism in Contemporary Literature and Culture: Reconciling the Void by Todd Davis and Ken Womack.
Rebecca Strzelec is one of 2006 Society of North American Goldsmiths Conference, Education Dialogue panelists along with Doug Bucci, Phil Carrizzi, Matthew Hollern, Sim Luttin, and James Thurman.
Rebecca Strzelec is one of the participating artists in Kendall College of Art and Design's Unfolding, a group exhibition of contemporary jewelry/accessories and metal objects shown with process drawings and finished work. 
Deborah Bernhardt's book of poetry Echolalia available now! Bernhardt is the recipient of the 2004Intro Poetry Prize from Four Way Books. Pieces from The Shorthand Series can be seen on the front and back covers.
In her review of the "Alternatives: Materials/Means" exhibition in the Spring 2006 Metalsmith Magazine, Katherine Ingraham states that the show is " visually arresting and thought provoking". Of Rebecca Strzelec she writes, "...there is something to be admired in the strength of the gesture and her willingness to expand the visual language of this relatively new process." Five pieces from the 2004-2005 Shorthand Series were a part of this exhibition. Solid Brooch is pictured in the review.
Metalsmith Magazine and American Craft Magazine feature brooches from The Shorthand Series.
Altoona Brooch is included in the Fall 2005 Metalsmith Magazine article "Influence of the Digital Toward a New Medium" by Douglas Bucci and Matthew Hollern. The second of two articles addressing digital technologies within the metals field includes the work and process of such innovators as Stanley Lechtzin, Daniella Kerner, Phil Carrizzi, Richard Nelipovich, Rod McCormick, Joe Wood, and Jennifer Sholtis Garfall.
Deborah Krupenia's December 2005/January 2006 American Craft Magazine article "Alternatives Materials/Means" includes Solid Brooch. The article reviews the recent Rhode Island College exhibition by the same name curated by Sondra Sherman.
Outside the Centers/On the Edge Exhibition to feature new work from Rebecca Strzelec's "Army Green Orchids" series. The traveling exhibition of Pennsylvania artists will kickoff at Kutztown University's Sheridan Gallery on January 26 and will run through February 28, 2006.
Rebecca Strzelec named Millay Colony for the Arts 2005 Nancy Graves Fellow. Recipients of this honor are chosen based on the significance of their month long residency at the Millay Colony. Strzelec spent July 2005 in the Speinson Studio at Steepletop developing her current series Army Green Orchids.
“The Shorthand Series” a paper based on Strzelec's recent series to be presented as part of the Women and Creativity conference at Marquette University on Friday, March 23 2006.