LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - From April 20 through May 2, 2009, Lock Haven University will present the Senior Art exhibition in the Sloan and Bentley Hall galleries. Art works created by graduating seniors will be on display including art inspired by and created in central Pennsylvania. Works include Amish super heroes, Williamsport cityscapes, graphic design, paintings, pottery and sculpture created by Pennsylvania artists. The exhibition and opening reception are free and open to the public. The opening reception will be at 8pm, Friday April 24th.

The exhibition will feature six artists: Marcella Bingham, Shanna Digan, Katie Gabrell, Jen Huff, Michelle Mazza, and Mark Wilson. This exhibition will be the first time that the new Bentley Hall gallery will be utilized for a senior show.

Bingham's sculptural work is a physical description of her life's progression through a series of egg shapes. Having been raised on a chicken farm in rural Delaware she explores her time spent there as well as how it affects her today. Bingham also will have on display an array of pottery available for public sale. She states, "I understand that with the economy being in the state that it is no one wants to spend a fortune on a piece of pottery. I want to provide good prices in tough economic times so that people can still enjoy the beauty of art in their own home."

Digan will exhibit painted cityscapes of Williamsport, as well as Philadelphia and New York. Digan's second series of works deal with vices and addictions. The intent of these is to question why addictions are common, why they are a part of our lives and what purpose they serve. She will also present a third series of artworks about suicide prevention. They were inspired by the suicide of a close friend. "I hope that these works can bring awareness about suicide, so that those affected can seek help," Digan said.

Gabrell creates a light hearted atmosphere through her 6 inch to human size sculptures. Gabrell focuses on details by choosing recycled, everyday materials from central, PA to construct her sculptures. LHU student Bryn Romspert states, "It's the structures' details that she focuses on that makes her art unique and one of a kind."

Huff presents reinterpretations of world mythologies in painting, batiks, and drawings. Huff is influenced by fantasy literature and games.

Wilson will exhibit layouts for his up-and-coming graphic novel about Amos, an Amish vigilante bent on revenge. Wilson's works shows elements of both traditional and new age mediums. Wilson uses Adobe Photoshop and treats the program as a blank canvas and demonstrates his skills in dynamic movement, placement, the human form, and line variation. The story of Amos originated from the many visits Wilson made to the Amish country. Every time Wilson and his peers visit an Amish shop or spot a horse and buggy they think, "Man, how sweet would it be if these kids had a comic book hero."

Mazza will present exciting and fun pieces of art created using the language and forms of graphic design. She is completing her BFA in Graphic Design but for this exhibition she presents a number of artworks inspired by the graphic design she sees in the world around us.

For further information, contact Associate Professor of Art Jason Bronner at 570-484-2141 or Jbronner@lhup.edu.