Now through Saturday, May 17, Westminster College is participating in a regional art exhibit in which artists utilized reclaimed materials to create their artwork for public display.

In conjunction with the Hoyt Art Center’s Exhibit, “Reclaimed: The Art of Recology,” two sculptures created by Westminster College students in the 3D Studio art course, under the direction of Summer Zickefoose, associate professor of art, are on display in the College’s McKelvey Campus Center.

The work was selected as part of a competitive process in which area artists were challenged to create temporary public art projects using at least 50% reclaimed materials. The Westminster exhibit is a collaborative project involving 16 students and features 1,000 pieces of relevant waste.

“The project I teach in the 3D Studio course, ‘1,000 Pieces: Upcycled Material and Process,’ seemed to fit well with the Hoyt’s public art competition. However, students usually make individual sculptures for the project. The competition challenged us to work collaboratively, source the materials locally and consider where the sculptures could be placed within a public space. We’re excited to be included and hope this encourages more people to visit our campus to see the sculptures,” said Zickefoose.

The public art is on display through Saturday, May 17, and features additional art in two public locations:

•    “Sons of Labor” by Michael Bestwick at the New Castle Municipal Building
•    “Safe Space” by Emily Elliott and Emma Jankosky in the James C. Myford Art Building at Slippery Rock University

The feature exhibit at the Hoyt, “Reclaimed: The Art of Recology,” includes 33 works from the Artist in Residence Program at Recology, a 47 acre zero waste transfer and recycling center in San Francisco. This exhibit was organized by Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Questions about the Westminster College exhibit can be directed to Zickefoose at zickefse@westminster.edu.

More information on the Hoyt exhibit can be found at www.hoytartcenter.org/reclaimed-the-art-of-recology/.

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