"Porta Hedge" by Justin Shull
MEADVILLE, Pa. – Oct. 30, 2009 – The Art Galleries at Allegheny College will present “Engineering Eden,” a national invitational exhibition featuring work by nine artists, from Tuesday, Nov. 3 to Tuesday, Dec. 1. An opening reception with talks by artists Justin Shull and Vesselina Traptcheva will be held on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. The galleries will be closed Nov. 25-29 for Allegheny’s Thanksgiving break.
The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, is part of Allegheny’s Year of Social Change, a series of activities, workshops and events aimed at inspiring the campus and community to seek a more just and equitable world.
“Engineering Eden” seeks to encourage individuals to consider how they are forming their world – for better and worse – and how the ideas they shape affect their lived experiences. The exhibit examines the ethical implications of changes that people make to the world as well as the futures they imagine for themselves and the environment.
Interactive agricultural installation by Leah Gauthier
Shull’s interactive “Porta Hedge” – a mobile, artificial hedge that accommodates people in its interior mobile observation lab – will be installed on the Gator Quad, just outside the main gallery entrance. “Ground Truthing,” a video installation by California artist Krista Caballero, will be housed inside the Megahan Gallery.
The show also will include photographs by Curtis Hamilton, Josh Winer, Todd Forsgren and Mark LaRosa, drawings by Traptcheva, and a sculptural environment created on-site by Thomas J. Stevenson. In addition, the exhibit will feature an interactive agricultural installation by Leah Gauthier, an enclosure for the study of hermit crabs’ socioeconomic behavior by Roberto Loring, and anthropomorphic organic sculptures by Erie artist Suzanne Proulx.
Gallery hours are: Tuesday through Friday, 12:30-5 p.m.; Saturday, 1:30-5 p.m.; and Sunday, 2-4 p.m. The Art Galleries are wheelchair accessible. The Art Galleries are located in Doane Hall of Art, east of North Main Street between College and John Streets.
Because programs are subject to change, the public is encouraged to call ahead at (814) 332-4365 to verify. For more information about future exhibitions, visit www.allegheny.edu/artgalleries.
