Art abounds on campus, and the second floor of The Madigan Library is offering onlookers more to enjoy with a display of handcarved wood masks made this semester as part of Wood Sculpture (ART142) classes.The masks are typically displayed in the lobby of The Gallery at Penn College, on the third floor of the library, however “Journey and Transformation: The Careers of David Stabley & Keith Vanderlin” is in that space through May 6, so the student masks have taken up residence on a second-floor wall.
Students take inspiration from African masks and are required to utilize such basic design principles as repetition, variation and negative space. They are also encouraged to incorporate color, texture and mixed media to make the masks more interesting and unique. Each mask is made from a block of pine and carved by hand with gouges, mallets and rasps. The Wood Sculpture classes are taught by Brian A. Flynn, assistant professor of graphic design; David A. Stabley, instructor of ceramics and wood sculpture; and Mark W. Wilson, instructor of graphic design.
In addition to the display of wood masks and the Stabley/Vanderlin exhibit, the library is a hot spot for two other upcoming exhibits: The gallery will host “Architecture & Sustainable Design: Senior Capstone Projects,” April 8-15, and “Graphic Design 2022: Senior Portfolio Exhibition,” April 26 through May 6.
Photos by Kollin G. Kisner, student photographer