Pennsylvania College of Art & Design | PCA&DGeneral News Archives - Page 2 of 8 - Pennsylvania College of Art & Design

Artist Talk: Illustrator Mai Ly Degnan talks about finding your ‘personal voice’

When Mai Ly Degnan sits down to create a new illustration, she’s melding the immediacy of hand-drawing with a deft skill at digital refinements: and that work has found fans far and wide. The award-winning illustrator and illustration professor presents an Artist Talk at PCA&D on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 1 pm in the College

January accomplishments in the PCA&D community

Several artists with current faculty and staff ties to PCA&D are exhibiting in Demuth Invitational: Lancaster Landscape now at the Demuth Museum, 120 E. King St. The show is open through Feb. 27 with the work of nearly 50 artists, including Salina Almanzar (CCE); Becky Blosser (Chair, Fine Art); Evan Kitson (Fine Art & Illustration); and Eric Weeks (Chair, Photography & Video). In addition, Robert

Artist Talk: Award-winning magazine designer Ryan Stalvey writes his own creative story

Ryan Stalvey says he always wanted to be “that cool ad man in the suit and fedora,” even though “in all honesty, I had little idea of what he actually did. I just knew I could draw and wanted to look like him when I did it.” So he may not always be wearing a

Four named winners of PCA&D faculty development grants

Four Pennsylvania College of Art & Design faculty members were awarded Fall 2021 grants through the College. These funding opportunities, awarded twice annually, are open to all full-time and part-time PCA&D faculty as well as instructors in the College’s Center for Creative Exploration. Awarded grants in this most recent round are: Research & Practice Professional

Book covers by two PCA&D juniors published by Sunbury Press

A book cover needs to be original while still fitting in with a specific genre; striking enough to grab attention from the books around it on a bookstore shelf, yet not so off-kilter that it alienates potential readers; and ultimately, distinct enough that it creates an identity for the title. It’s a tall order. And

Cheers! Two PCA&D artists tapped for Spring House Brewing collaboration

The work of Sami Halfpenny ’23, Illustration and Brigitte Errickson ’19, Fine Art, will be featured on Spring House Brewing products this year. Their art joins that of Center for Creative Exploration instructor Zack Wilkinson, whose Thirst For Adventure piece was tapped for July’s Artist Collaboration beer. The PCA&D artists were among the dozen chosen

Joanna Becker ’21 exploring the wide-ranging world of book illustration

Lancaster-based artist Joanna Becker only graduated from Pennsylvania College of Art & Design in 2021, and she already has wrapped up illustrating her third book, with more projects and art passions in the wings. How is that even possible? Well, for starters, her string of projects began even before she received her diploma, working on

Sculptor and theater group with PCA&D ties selected for Lancaster’s PACE Neighbors project

An almnus and a theater group with collaborative ties to the College and our Center for Creative Exploration program are two of the five local artists chosen to participate in the City of Lancaster’s PACE (Public Art Community Engagement) Neighbors project. Congratulations to Matty Geez ’14, Illustration, as well as Lancaster’s Teatro Paloma for their

December accomplishments in the PCA&D community

Rebecca Adey, Assistant Director of Admissions, is exhibiting four works at Millworks, Harrisburg, through Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. The four pieces focus on two birds, the phoenix and peacock, featuring a mount of each along with a matching papercut portrait. “With the closing of 2021 and emergency of a new year, both birds are perfect representations of

Chris Morris ’19 dives into virtual reality as a 3D artist with MajorMega

The kickoff to Chris Morris’ career was thanks to attending a guest speaker program on campus. The longevity of his career has been thanks to his embrace of all aspects of 3D design and willingness to jump wholeheartedly into a learning curve. And now, one of the most recent results of that work is taking

College announces Fall 2021 Dean’s List

Congratulations to the following 90 students who have been named to the Fall 2021 Dean’s List at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design: Omar Almanzar ’25, undecided, Lancaster Abigail Altman ’24, Illustration, Rockville, Md. Aiyana Alvarado ’25, Graphic Design, Harrisburg, Pa. J. Aman ’22, Illustration, New Providence, N.J. Lauren Antanavage ’23, Animation & Game Art,

Dan Helwig joins College as Vice President of Development

Dan Helwig brings a long record of successful advancement and development fundraising to PCA&D as the College’s new Vice President of Development. In this position Helwig, who joined the College this fall, is responsible for leading and managing the College’s Development program, including individual, corporate, and foundation giving, bequests, the annual fund, grants, and special

Collaboration with Teatro Paloma leads CCE into workshops featuring Spanglish monologues and theater games

When you’re faced with a sense of “ni di aquí, di de allá” — being neither here nor there, culturally speaking — finding something that grounds you, and provides a sense of belonging, is a powerful thing. Maybe it’s language, shared with others in your group while forming a bridge to “the outside.” Maybe it’s

For Rachel McInerney ’18, Illustration, ‘creativity’ means ‘Kaos’ and life as a DJ in Shanghai

Sometimes, the creative path forward looks like befriending and learning from older, more experienced artists. Sometimes, it looks like challenging your introverted nature by venturing alone into new settings. Other times, it may feel like the world opening up when you find a creative niche — say, music — that really moves you. If you’re

February CCE classes: ‘small-bite’ time investments for a big impact

February’s the shortest month, and PCA&D’s Center for Creative Exploration has themed its February offerings to reflect this with plenty of shorter “small-bite” classes. Recognizing that the month can be filled with busy schedules, school holidays, and the always-present threat of snow, these one-or two-session classes pack a lot of fun and learning into short

Meet Leyna Gilleland: Turning College housing into College community

Leyna Gilleland loved being a resident adviser in college, loved getting involved in campus activities, loved being an orientation leader and tour guide, loved helping to advise student clubs. So when she learned that everything she really enjoyed about those experiences could become a career in higher education student affairs? “It’s a chance to use

November accomplishments in the PCA&D community

Work by nearly a dozen artists with PCA&D ties was part of a Nov. 19 community art show and silent auction to benefit the work of CWS Lancaster, a nonprofit organization that works to resettle refugees. CWS Lancaster recently partnered with NPR’s StoryCorps American Pathways program to record podcasts with local refugee storytellers. Those recordings

Fine Art seniors present “Avid Vanguard” at the Demuth

Avid Vanguard, a collection of works created in Senior Studio, is celebrated with an opening reception Friday, Dec. 3 at the Demuth Museum, 116 E King St. The show, says Assistant Professor and Fine Art Chair Becky Blosser, “is the culmination of focused dedication to developing a studio practice. From this, themes and formal explorations

Business Bootcamp a chance to refine ideas for a creative career

A business plan that lives only in your head can sometimes kind of get stuck there: Where to begin? PCA&D’s recent Business Bootcamp worked to fill out some of those ideas, get them down on paper, and push them a few steps closer to reality. Led by PCA&D instructor Holly Mosher, the full-day Business Bootcamp

Recent alum Benjamin Farley ’21 joins PCA&D as Esports Team coach

Benjamin Farley was 10 when he was introduced to the classic Xbox game Halo 2. He started with the game’s single-player campaign. Then he quickly switched to multiplayer. Once he went into battle head-to-head against other players, he says he was “stunned by how much fun it was.” There was a strong player community, he

Student Council leadership chosen for 2021-2022

The PCA&D student body has chosen its Student Council leadership for this academic year, turning to several new faces to act as liaisons with college administration and to serve as a sounding board and organization body for student initiatives. Congratulations to: President Dzifa Charity Lassey ’24, Graphic Design Vice President Mak Sherrid ’24, Illustration

Kelly Phan’s work will brand the 2022 Senior Show & Celebration

Congratulations to Kelly Phan ’22, Graphic Design, whose design work has been chosen to brand the 2022 Senior Show & Celebration in May. Her bold, Bauhaus-inspired peacock, tied to the College’s own branding colors, will appear on tickets, banners, social media, and other promotional materials next spring. Phan was one of six finalists, chosen after

Atten-TION! PCA&D students, alumni invited to sign up for Nov. 20 Business Bootcamp

Plenty of art students dream of turning their passion into a business. The knowledge of how to accomplish that, though, isn’t always easy to attain. Instead of “flying blind” toward that goal, it helps to have a strategy, feedback, and guidance that will help boost chances of success. That’s the premise behind PCA&D’s upcoming Business

Eric Dyer’s zoetropes are the models of a modern motion artifact

Modern art sometimes relies on cutting-edge technology to make its point, but artist Eric Dyer turns photos, 3-D objects, and kinetic sculpture into a modern reimagining of a 19th-century optical device: His zoetropes pull art into a physical 4th dimension, he says, counterbalancing the virtual, screen-filled world that surrounds our 21st-century lives. “As the material,

Alumna Amy Boone McCreesh ’07 brings her creative life insight to Artist Talk Thursday

For PCA&D alumna Amy Boone-McCreesh, her time in art school was a great opportunity to learn how others — her peers and already-established artists — were managing to navigate the art world. Returning to her alma mater gives her a chance to do the same for current students. The interdisciplinary artist and 2007 graduate of

PCA&D Admissions now accepts the Common App

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design has joined the growing number of colleges and universities which accept The Common Application, known as the Common App, as part of its admissions application process. This decision simplifies the application process, allowing students to fill out one application that then is accepted by any college or university that

October Commencement honors the Classes of 2020, 2021

It felt more like May than October, as a sunny warm day greeted members of the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 for their long-awaited Commencement ceremonies. With family and friends in the stands at Clipper Magazine Stadium, the event paid tribute to these two groups of new alumni who graduated in the

Alexia Eggleston honored with this year’s Mary Colleen Heil Presidential Scholarship

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is pleased to announce that Alexia Eggleston of Laurel, Maryland, a junior Photography & Video major, has been selected as the 2021-22 recipient of the Mary Colleen Heil Presidential Scholarship. Eggleston’s participation in College and department activities and professionalism led to the recommendation for the scholarship. Eggleston is a

Curator Lauren Nye visits PCA&D Oct. 22 to present Artist Talk

When Lauren Nye graduated with her BFA in sculpture and art history, she wasn’t sure where her career would take her. What she did know was that she wanted it to be in the arts. She knew to take advantage of opportunities when they arose, and she knew to pull in experience wherever she could.

Meet your Alumni Council: PCA&D establishes its first alumni advisory body

After nearly 40 years, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design and its predecessors have long had an unofficial network of graduates. But there’s been no official way for alumni to benefit from College initiatives — or for current students to learn from the ever-growing network of PCA&D alumni. As of this year, that’s all changed.

‘Hate has no place here’: A letter from President Michael Molla

Dear Campus Community, I’m writing to firmly restate our values as a College: Hate has no place here. A number of our neighboring colleges have been experiencing hate speech through social media, particularly centered around a reemerged sharing platform that is a haven known for cyberbullying, bigotry, harassment, and trolling on college campuses. Today, some

11 honored for their student work in computer graphics competition

Nearly a dozen recent graduates of Pennsylvania College of Art & Design have been honored in the SIGGRAPH2021 Faculty Submitted Student Work competition. SIGGRAPH is the world’s largest conference on computer graphics. The work of these Animation & Game Art and Illustration students is now shared here worldwide for educators to use in their classrooms (drag

September achievements in the PCA&D community

Ellie Cochran ’19, Graphic Design, has been awarded the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania Impact Award, which recognizes a woman in technology whose contributions have had a positive impact in the Entrepreneurial/Small Business sector. Cochran is Creative Director at the Lancaster LGBTQ + Coalition. Dyneisha Gross ’20, Graphic Design, has been named a Woman Designer to Watch

Poetry as Public Memory: PCA&D presents first program in its 2021-22 Diverse Voices series

The Liberal Arts Department kicks off its Diverse Voices Speaker Series for the year on Thursday, Sept. 30, at 7 pm. That evening the College presents Composing Culture, Poetry as Public Memory with moderator Dr. Jennie Keohane, a rhetorician and scholar of public memory texts at the University of Baltimore; Joseph Ross, the author of four books of poetry

CCE instructors dive deep into professional development offerings

Is something on your wishlist to learn, but you just don’t have hours upon hours free to get started? Jump-start your learning with a one-session workshop through PCA&D’s Center for Creative Exploration. In the space of an evening, you’ll get tips and tactics you can use, and enough information to put that new knowledge into

Emily Reifsnyder ’22 designs digital book for the PCA&D-Zayed University exchange and exhibition

A simple blog exchange of photos and ideas between PCA&D photographers and students in the United Arab Emirates has morphed into an ebook compiled and designed by Emily Reifsnyder ’22. The Photography & Video major recently completed PCA&D-Zayed Photography Exchange, a digital photo book that highlights the ongoing collaboration between Pennsylvania College of Art &

Meet Karin Wengenroth, the 2021-22 Fine Art Alumni Artist in Residence

When Karin Wengenroth was a Fine Art student at PCA&D, her senior thesis centered on abstracted and contorted figure painting, she says, “oil for the most part, but also silkscreening and soft sculpture.” Now the 2017 graduate is back on campus as the 2021-22 Fine Art Alumni Artist in Residence. She’s working out of the

Phillip Kieffer ’19 brings his talents back to PCA&D in a pair of Center for Creative Exploration classes

PCA&D is thrilled to welcome Phil Kieffer back to campus this fall to teach a pair of classes in the College’s Center for Creative Exploration. An award-winning animator and artist, Kieffer is a 2019 graduate of PCA&D’s Digital Media department, now Animation & Game Art. In the CCE program, Kieffer will be mentoring two classes:

CCE mural heading from Art Garden to Lancaster Museum of Art

A group of young Center for Creative Exploration students has an important message about creativity: Creativity isn’t the “possession” of any one special group. You don’t have to be “chosen” to be creative. The act of being creative, these 7th- through 9th-graders confirm, belongs to everyone. Creativity Belongs to the People, a collaborative mural made

Public Artist Talks are a highlight of Alumni Exhibition programming

In conjunction with the 2021 Alumni Exhibition on display in the Gallery at PCA&D through Oct. 31, a full schedule of programming has been planned by Exhibitions Director Alex Schaufele. The slate of events includes public Artist Talks (both in-person and virtual via Zoom), a public Artist Panel, and student studio visits. Be sure to

August accomplishments of note

PCA&D has awarded Research and Practice Grants to five members of the faculty for ongoing projects: Shwarga Bhattacharjee (2D Design Adjunct) participation in the Chautauqua Visual Arts Residency Program in Chautauqua, N.Y.; Adam Del Marcelle (Graphic Design Adjunct), project and documentary presentation to the Attend (to) Futures Conference this fall in Cologne, Germany; Troy Hollman

Artist Talk: Tom Whalen visiting PCA&D

Looking to build a career in an art field? Art skills are crucial, says Tom Whalen, but so is “nimble adaptability” and some familiarity with business skills. Whalen, whose graphically bold work is sought-after by clients such as Lucasfilm, Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios, The Beatles, Metallica, Primus, The Black Keys, and Microsoft, will be on

Introducing new PCA&D faculty; announcing new faculty positions

With the opening of a new PCA&D academic year, we also welcome new faculty and staff joining the College community, and those who are stepping into new roles: Joining PCA&D Emily Artinian (Fine Art): Artinian produces artists’ books, text-based art, installations, and audience participation works. Some of her areas of focus have included narrative and

Healing Arts Artist in Residence Jennifer Quigley presenting Aug. 27 talk

Jennifer Quigley, a locally based artist whose work runs the gamut from painting and photography to sculpture and mixed media, will present an Artist Talk to the PCA&D community Friday, Aug. 27, at 5:15 pm. The Q&A-style presentation is designed so that PCA&D students can learn more about Quigley’s large-scale public art installation Art Heals,

A snapshot look back at Orientation Week 2021

Five days of Orientation events filled the week before PCA&D’s Aug. 23 start date — five days of meetings and presentations balanced out by ice cream, walking tours, pottery painting, sketch sessions, movies, and more. It was, as President Michael Molla shared with the Class of 2025, an opportunity to “really explore what living a

‘Show and Tell’ kicks off 2021-2022 in CORE Gallery

CORE Gallery at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design has kicked off its 2021-2022 season of shows with Show and Tell, a curated exhibition featuring the work from PCA&D’s class of 2022. Show and Tell introduces new students at PCA&D to the work of their fellow classmates, and gives the Class of 2022 the opportunity

Lancaster Chamber publishes article by members of BLAC

Earlier this summer, the Lancaster Chamber published an article by BLAC, PCA&D’s Black Led Art Coalition, as part of its Words That Activate Change series. The article’s three authors — Delaina Jolley ’22, Illustration; CamRyn Mickens ’23, Animation & Game Art; and Kendall White ’23, Illustration — addressed “How Art Students Respond to the Unprecedented Events.” They talked

Mentoring program helps bring PCA&D’s new Data Visualization Certificate to life

This is the story of mentorship, PCA&D community, and expanding the ways artists and designers can impact the world around them. The culmination of all of those elements: a new certificate program, Data Visualization, that teaches students to use effective design principles and analytics for information design. Seth Crider, a PCA&D alumnus and instructor for

Todd Snovel named Vice President for Student Affairs & Community Engagement

Todd Snovel has been named Vice President for Student Affairs & Community Engagement at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. A member of the College’s staff since 2019, Snovel previously served the PCA&D community as Director of Development & Strategic Initiatives. “We are delighted to have his extensive experience in higher education, government, and nonprofit

Learning and teaching design with data

by Tom Newmaster Adjunct Instructor, Graphic Design When it comes to teaching package design, one thing there is no shortage of is opinions. Design gurus will share what they believe works, what they think of as best practices, what’s cutting-edge. But when you get to the marketplace, it’s the consumer’s opinion that counts.

Young Artists, fun opportunities: Summer at the Center for Creative Exploration

From clay classes for the youngest artists just out of kindergarten to an esports camp for middle- and high-school-age artists that introduces them to that field’s careers and creativity, the Center for Creative Exploration’s summer classes and camps for young artists offer a huge range of experiences designed to spark creativity and skills. The late

Registration is open for college credit courses as well as literary inspiration: Check out our CCE summer sessions

PCA&D’s Center for Creative Exploration’s schedule of summer classes is a blend of college credit-bearing options for pre-college students, classes that use the written word to spark creativity not only for writers but for visual artists as well, and a selection of single-session workshops that provide a quick boost of inspiration or a glimpse at

Ultimate Art Camp for Grades 5-9 pairs the Center for Creative Exploration with the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen

Picture an arts camp for kids that very well could make the parents jealous: That’s pretty much the reaction when people learn about what’s going on at Ultimate Art Camp, a weeklong August experience for young artists in grades 5-9 that pairs an instructor from Pennsylvania College of Art & Design’s Center for Creative Education

Congratulations to our Spring 2021 Dean’s List students

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design has announced names of students achieving Dean’s List status during the Spring 2021 semester. Congratulations to these 126 students: Abigail Altman ’24, Illustration, Rockville, Md. Jennifer Aman ’22, Illustration, New Providence, N.J. Lauren Antanavage ’23, Animation & Game Art, Frackville, Pa. Isaac Baker ’21, Graphic Design, Frackville, Pa. Charles

Alex Schaufele joins PCA&D as the new Director of Exhibitions

Alex Schaufele’s long experience of tying gallery and community together, and using museums to engage and educate, takes another step July 1 when she joins Pennsylvania College of Art & Design as the Director of Exhibitions. Arriving from the University of Notre Dame’s Snite Museum of Art, where she was Assistant Curator of Education, Public

Tempo Clubhouse forms its first job training program in higher ed with PCA&D

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design recently has partnered with Tempo Clubhouse to provide employment opportunities within the College’s Facilities Department. PCA&D is the first higher-education partner for the Tempo Clubhouse program, which provides an avenue back to employment for people who are receiving mental health services. At PCA&D, Tempo employees are trained to provide

Kelly Phan is winner of 2021 Mary Colleen Heil Presidential Scholarship

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is pleased to announce that Kelly Phan of Lancaster, a junior Graphic Design major, has been selected as the 2021 recipient of the Mary Colleen Heil Presidential Scholarship. Kelly’s participation in College and department activities and her professionalism led to the recommendation for the scholarship. According to Pam Barby,

PCA&D announces faculty promotions and additions

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is pleased to announce upcoming promotions and additions to the College’s faculty and staff: Michelle Fogel has been promoted to Assistant Professor in General Humanities and will also work with students this fall as a faculty persistence mentor. Fogel has been a part-time faculty member in the Liberal Arts

Summer esports camp is a deep dive into the careers (and the fun!) of the esports world

There’s much more to esports than fun and games (though there’s plenty of that, too): Take a look at the job listings for esports and video game production. There are team marketers and public relations managers, game designers and coders, artists and animators, writers and audio engineers…for starters. And the job opportunities just keep growing.

PCA&D grants BFA diplomas to the Class of 2021

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design was pleased to confer BFA diplomas on 59 members of the Class of 2021 during Senior Sendoff ceremonies on May 7, 2021. Full Commencement ceremonies, for both the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020, are scheduled to be held Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, at Clipper Stadium in

PCA&D partners with Nimblist to stretch College’s LiveX major and new minors

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is excited to welcome Nimblist as the first partner of the College’s newly created Institute for Leadership, Creative Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. The Institute is the College’s new hub for multiple strategic initiatives and curricular innovations. It will merge entrepreneurship with creativity, developing opportunities for students to build leadership skills

“Art Heals”: Scenes from the June First Friday unveiling

On June First Friday, artist Jennifer Quigley’s exhibition, Art Heals, was officially unveiled in the College Art Garden and on the facade of PCA&D. She’s the first Artist in Residence for the College’s Healing Arts Residency, an initiative of PCA&D’s Institute of Learning, Creative Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. That institute currently is collaborating with the local

Black Artist Waystation holding Juneteenth celebrations in PCA&D Art Garden

This time last year, PCA&D’s Art Garden was the epicenter of Lancaster’s Black Lives Matter protests and mourning — days of anger prompted by the recorded police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and mourning the names and lives of so many others who have died in similar circumstances. This week, in the presence of

Grace Keefe ’22 hits a home run with new Lancaster Barnstormers merch

Step inside the stadium gift shop of Lancaster’s minor league baseball team, and you can’t miss the ballcaps bearing a new design for the 2021 Lancaster Barnstormers. It’s a contemporary swoosh of orange tones, a “LANC.” abbreviation that feels like it’s in motion, accented by a heart in the center of the “A” and held

Recent achievements of note in the PCA&D community

The work of Artzbeat ’21, Fine Art, was featured in the May 28 edition of The Burg, a community magazine and daily online news site that covers the Harrisburg, Pa., region. She was recognized as the Artist in Focus for her work at PCA&D as well as her work on the Harrisburg mural covering Midtown Cinema. The

Teaching & Learning Center hosting free 2-day workshop for educators

After a year of rapidly changing demands in the field of education, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is hosting a free, online, two-day workshop for educators at both the K-12 and college level. Under the direction of PCA&D’s Center for Teaching & Learning, the June 17-18 event features speakers who are experts in the

Catch up on Career Day 2021: Watch these sessions with employers and guest speakers

PCA&D’s Career Day in late April was a chance for students to learn more about careers that are their end goal after art school, to explore other options they may not have considered, and to make connections with potential employers. And, in at least one case, to immediately snag a great summer work experience. Rising

College holds its annual Creative Careers event with Lancaster 5th-graders

Don’t let anyone tell you that young kids aren’t interested in creative careers. PCA&D’s annual events that introduce School District of Lancaster 5th-graders to the possibilities of what an art degree and life as an artist can be like are always a flurry of activity and excited chatter. This year, those two sessions were no

PCA&D’s unveiling of Art Heals, with Artist in Residence Jennifer Quigley, set for June First Friday

In her sun-filled fourth-floor studio at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, artist Jennifer Quigley stands back and examines a 3D bandage leaning against the wall. About 3 feet across, the “X”-shaped Band-Aid-style is a smaller version of those that will be mounted on the facade of the College in June. Across Prince Street, in

‘Meet Our Majors’ events: Determining your path in art and design school

Trying to determine whether art and design school is the right move for you — and then sorting through the different pathways open to you once you arrive — is a lot easier when you can talk to people who teach and help guide students once they settle on art school, and who can explain

For Kelly Phan ’22, designing the Class of 2021 exhibition book was a lesson in balance and insight

If compiling a nearly 140-page book encompassing works from 58 artists, writings from College administration, and input from several editors, while working to specifications set up by senior faculty and staff and a professional printer, sounds like a massive undertaking … Kelly Phan would probably agree. While working on her other classes as well, the

Behind the scenes with the co-curators: “Sincerely Yours,” the Class of 2021 exhibition

Five members of the Class of 2021 were selected for a special opportunity to co-curate the senior exhibition. Nicole Denzler, Photography & Video; Mandi Hall, Fine Art; Alexis Lebesco, Illustration; Regina Marie Mehaffey, Graphic Design; and Rachel Stork, Fine Art. These students were selected out of a pool of applicants for a competitive position within

Behind the scenes with the student curators of the Class of 2021 exhibition, “Sincerely Yours,”

As part of an exhibition and curating internship, five members of PCA&D’s Class of 2021 collectively produced this year’s senior exhibition, featuring one work from each member of their graduating class. We asked the co-curators — Nicole Denzler, Photography & Video; Mandi Hall, Fine Art; Alexis Lebesco, Illustration; Regina Marie Mehaffey, Graphic Design; and Rachel

Introducing the Class of 2021: PCA&D hosts Senior Send-Off ceremonies in the Art Garden

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design welcomed its new cohort of alumni Friday during in-person morning celebrations in the Art Garden and an afternoon online conferring of degrees. Under a large white tent filling much of the Art Garden space, students and faculty gathered by major to mark an exceptional achievement: completing their final year

PCA&D Graphic Design and Illustration departments ranked regionally, nationally

A pair of national publications has recognized Pennsylvania College of Art & Design in their recent rankings of design and art programs: GD USA Magazine, a business-to-business source for graphic design professionals, has named Pennsylvania College of Art & Design to its list of top graphic design schools in the United States. The compilation represents

PCA&D wraps up Spring Lecture Series: Here’s how to watch our guest speakers

This spring, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design hosted six distinguished speakers as part of a lecture series featuring curators, art historians, and artists. The presentations brought a multitude of perspectives to our College community centering on exhibitions, history of Chicano/a/x art, and individual contemporary creative practices. “COVID-19 canceled many activities and imposed countless restrictions

PCA&D awarded Truist grant to support scholarships, LiveX major launch

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $125,000 from the Truist Economic Growth Fund, formerly BB&T: $50,000 of the grant will support scholarships for students who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. The remaining $75,000 is earmarked to accelerate the launch of PCA&D’s BFA in live

College announces new faculty grant initiatives

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design recently announced two new tracks for Professional Development Funding open to all College faculty: full-time, part-time, adjunct, and faculty of PCA&D’s Center for Creative Exploration. The application process is now open, and grants will be awarded in early June. The goal is to support faculty as they achieve both

Virtual Career Day combines inspiration, information… and lots of employment connections

Combining employer meet-and-greets, question-and-answer sessions, opportunities to share resumes, and a keynote by design historian Gökhan Ersan, PCA&D’s second Virtual Career Day April 21 is designed to be much more than a sit-and-watch-a-Zoom-presentation event. Instead, the goal is to be useful. Eye-opening. Educational. A gateway to internships, mentorships, fellowships … and jobs. “One year after

CCE’s public outdoor art workshop a highlight of River Towns Plein Air 2021

The first bursts of Spring often bring an urge to be outdoors, and a renewal of creative energy — maybe even more so this year, after a year of pandemic social distancing. This year, one of the region’s major art celebrations of Spring’s return is happening in the first home of Pennsylvania College of Art

Recent PCA&D community achievements

Recognizing recent accomplishments by students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Pennsylvania College of Art & Design: Four Graphic Design seniors have been named winners in the 2021 Graphic Design USA Student Package Design competition. Bringing home national-level honors are: Isaac Baker, Jia Bernstein, Zorina Eckman, and John Hollas. All four are members of Prof. Tom

Fine Art Alumni Artist in Residence applications are now open

The College’s Fine Art Alumni Artist in Residence Program is now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 academic year. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 28. APPLY HERE This on-campus residency is open to any Fine Art graduate of PCA&D or its predecessor, the Pennsylvania School of Art & Design. Artists who work in any medium

Take a deeper dive into the 2021 Faculty Biennial, a showcase of wide-ranging talent

As the 2021 Faculty Biennial comes to a close, take a moment for a deeper dive into the work of our full-time faculty members featured in The Gallery at PCA&D and on our website. The Biennial has served as a celebration of the College’s tradition of mentorship and education, inspiring us with their dedication to

Collaborative workshops break isolation and result in community exhibition, ‘Zammesei’

Months upon months of pandemic restrictions can take a toll on anyone — especially a community that thrives on interaction, on collaboration, and on opportunities to learn and discover. The College’s Center for Creative Exploration partnered with a local senior living community to figure out how to bridge that isolation. The result is a new

CCE exhibition pays tribute to the connection between visual art and music

If you’re learning Photoshop fundamentals, few things would be more boring than a dry recitation of “how tos” when it comes to adjustment layers, cropping, lighting effects, and other basic skills. But if you’re imaging an album cover? And shooting photos using a green screen? And looking up musicians you love to see how they

Documenting the 2021 Faculty Biennial with Cameren White ’24

This is the final post in a series highlighting the creative contributions of students at the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design who worked behind the scenes to make the 2021 Faculty Biennial in the Main Gallery. From Trenton, New Jersey, Cameren White ’24 is on the CORE Gallery curatorial board and does special video

Na’Chelle Morris ’22 documents the Main Gallery’s 2021 Faculty Biennial

This is Part II of a series highlighting the hard work and creative input of students who worked behind the scenes to make the 2021 Faculty Biennial a success. Na’Chelle Morris ’22, the official photographer of PCA&D’s student-run CORE Gallery, was assigned to document the 2021 Faculty Biennial for the Main Gallery. Charged with documenting

Patience, persistence, and portfolio: Advice from illustrator Eric Wilkerson

In his nearly 20-year career, illustrator Eric Wilkerson has worked in the video gaming, film, commercial, advertising, and publishing industries, as both a staff member and freelancer, providing concept art, matte painting, and art direction services. He’s designed characters and theatrical costumes, works in digital and traditional media … it’s a wide-ranging resume. And his

2021-2022 Fine Art Alumni Residency now accepting applications

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design’s Fine Art Department is again sponsoring an alumni residency, for the 2021-2022 academic year. Application details can be found here. Deadline for applications is Friday, May 28. The residency, open to one graduate of PCA&D or its precursor, the Pennsylvania School of Art & Design, is an opportunity to

A conversation between landscape and humans: Artist Talk by photographer Sebastian Mejia, March 25

Sebastian Mejia’s love of photography, and his photographic eye, have been strong since before his teen years in Colombia, even before his father gifted him his first camera: a 1980s Canon A-1 35mm reflex. Once Mejia became a student at School of Visual Arts in New York City, his artistic insight became apparent to his

College announces Commencement plans for Class of 2021 and Class of 2020

A message from Michael Molla, President, Pennsylvania College of Art Design: March is a month of change and transition — we can feel the arrival of spring in the air as we shift into a new season and consider the approaching end of this academic year. This time prompts us also to think about the

Designathon 2021: A 12-hour sprint to create new branding for 8 regional nonprofits

The clients (and alumni) were online; the timeframe was 12 hours instead of the traditional 24; and gauging by client reactions Saturday night (yes, there were some giddy tears of happiness), Designathon 2021 was a massive success. Organizer and Graphic Design Department Chair Pam Barby, along with faculty members Bill Dussinger and Laura Korzon, and

4 seniors nab national packaging design honors

Four Graphic Design seniors have been honored in Graphic Design USA’s 58th Annual Package Design Awards. They all are members of Tom Newmaster‘s Packaging Design class. Congratulations to: Isaac Baker: Taino Batata Sweet Potato Chips; Jia Bernstein: Crescents Potato Chips; Zorina Eckman: Sonos Audio Entertainment; John Hollas: Holy Chip Hell Fire and Chili Lime Chips.

College introduces Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshop series this spring

This semester, PCA&D presents a three-part Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Spring Workshop Series: An Inclusive PCA&D Begins with You. It features three programs open to the greater College community: The first in the series was held earlier this month. Antiracism 101: Being an Ally, Accomplice, and Co-Conspirator at PCA&D was a presentation by Justin Brown,

Part I: Students behind the Faculty Biennial, Jaymi Vilardo and Isiah Bates

Part 1 of a series highlighting the students who worked behind the scenes to make the Faculty Biennial. The Faculty Biennial is an important tradition that celebrates faculty members for their dedication to the College’s mission and showcases their creative talents. This year’s rendition of the exhibit has been enhanced by the hard work and

Center for Creative Exploration Spring classes are open for registration

Registration for the Spring session of Center for Creative Exploration (CCE) classes has opened, and it’s a long list of opportunities packed into the April-June timeframe: Adult Professional Development & Single-Session Workshops The four Professional Development classes — Effective Design: Color & Typography, Intro to Digital Marketing, Intro to JavaScript, and Intro to UX/UI — all meet twice weekly to

Recent notes of accomplishment in our PCA&D community

Two members of the College faculty, Becky Blosser (Assistant Professor, Fine Art) and Eric Weeks (Assistant Professor and Chair, Photography & Video), as well as alumnus Marlin Bert have work in the current Demuth Invitational: Illustrations from the Stories that Inspire. The exhibition is open for timed in-person visitation at The Demuth Museum in downtown Lancaster here, and online here, through Saturday,

Learning Commons: Digging into Online Critique Sessions with Jasmyn Stokes ’23

Some of the most useful parts of the learning experience can also be pretty uncomfortable when you first face them. Take the practice of critique. Showing a work in progress to other artists, taking in their constructive suggestions and criticisms, and explaining your choices, is a time-honored part of art school. It helps artists figure

Directions in Contemporary Art zine goes on display at Street Road Artists Space

A month after wrapping up their online exhibition, Beyond Things Left Unsaid, a collaboration with Lancaster Museum of Art, PCA&D’s Fine Art seniors are once again on display. A zine created by members of Prof. Henry Gepfer’s Directions in Contemporary Art Class is on exhibit at Street Road Artists’ Space. The Chester County project integrates

Zorina Eckman and Madeleine Lyash named “Students to Watch” by GDUSA

Graphic Design seniors Zorina Eckman and Madeleine Lyash have been named 2021 Students to Watch by Graphic Design USA. The online news source and magazine covers people, projects, trends, technology and products for graphic design professionals nationwide. “Maddie and Zorina fully understand the power of design,” says Graphic Design Department Chair Pamela Barby. “They are creating