Dr. Keith T. Miller, LHU president, addresses supporters of the arts at the John Sloan Fine Arts Building gallery on Homecoming Weekend.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - For Lock Haven University alumni, Homecoming weekend is an opportunity to see old friends and observe many traditions, including going to a football game and seeing the crowning of the Homecoming king and queen.

This year, LHU alumni who are supporters of the arts added another event to the weekend agenda as it was a rare opportunity to view the original work of a famous artist and a chance to hear about the performing and visual arts at the university.

On Friday, Oct. 20, alumni and friends of the university staved off the rain and gloomy weather to meet at the John Sloan Fine Arts gallery as it was a night filled with joyful greetings, shinning eyes and the gentle sounds of live piano performances.

The event featured the John Sloan Collection of Etchings, one of the most treasured belongings of the Lock Haven University Foundation. According to Professor Philip Huber, the etchings were donated to the university by the second wife of John Sloan, Helen Farr Sloan, and her father, Dr. Hallen Farr.

Born in Lock Haven, John Sloan (1871-1951) began his professional career as an illustrator and cartoonist working for the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia press. Sloan later moved to New York and started doing his illustrations for The Masses, a left wing magazine of social commentary.

“John Sloan was a very deep and interesting man,” said Huber.

The majority of his etchings were created in those years, and they reflect the artist’s political views.

One of the most satirical etchings in the collection is “Thirst for Art” (1939). It depicts a typical art opening in New York of the time. Instead of appreciating arts, people of the elite New York society are depicted as simply drinking, completely ignoring the exhibition.

“What he (Sloan) did is fantastic,” said Kay Bossert, class of 1963. “I do a little painting myself, but I have no clue how to get so many details,” she added pointing out the etching, “Anshultz on Anatomy.” “There are 27 people in this tiny picture. It’s amazing.”

Observing the exhibition, James Morrell, class of 1954, said, “John Sloan would be very proud of it.”

“These etchings are beautiful, interesting and have a lot of feeling to them,” added his wife, Jerrie.

“I think you have a wonderful collection,” agreed Barbie Powlus, class of 1955.

Though the etchings were home at LHU for the exhibit, they are part of a traveling collection. Seven years ago, Huber started touring them to the LHU partner universities around the world. Sloan had never traveled himself, but his etchings have been in Ukraine, Croatia and Tunisia. According to Huber, the collection’s next destination is Poland.

Tammy Rich, LHU’s director of Alumni Relations, said that this event was also organized as a showcase for one of the Steinway pianos to draw attention to the university’s All Steinway Initiative.

“This initiative is a project to replace all of our pianos with Steinway instruments,” explained Dr. David Curtin, a music professor and a proponent of the initiative.

According to Curtin, Steinway & Sons has been in business for over 150 years, and 95 percent of all pianos used in professional settings around the world are Steinway pianos.

“We hope that having Steinway pianos will attract more new music students to play the best instrument available,” said Curtin.

According to Dr. Mahlon Grass, the head of the LHU Performing Arts Department, the initiative was instituted two years ago this past summer. The first two pianos were acquired with help of LHU alumnae Geraldine Mertz and Margery Krevsky.

Grass said that the university is going to purchase a 9-foot model D piano, the largest Steinway piano available, next month. The piano will reside in the Price Performance Center.

“We are very excited to have Steinway pianos in Lock Haven,” he said. “Each of the faculty of the department of performing arts agreed that an ‘All Steinway School’ would be a benefit not only in drawing better-prepared and highly motivated students to the program here, but also would benefit the University as a whole in bringing the school significant distinction, since universities that have this singular designation have been able to attract highly-qualified students to their institutions.”

Anna Brabander, a student and pianist whose performances summoned an ovation from the audience, said, “Compared to a regular piano, Steinway is softer, and sound seems to come out by itself. Besides, a piano as such costs around $100,000 – it speaks for itself.”