Behind the Art: Playfulness shows in Latrobe Art Center founder's work

Shirley McMarlin, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·2 min read

Feb. 26—On the right wall, just inside the entrance of the Latrobe Art Center, hangs a watercolor painting that depicts a plein air artist hard at work.

Dressed in blue pants and a yellow shirt, the artist bends over her easel amidst benches, flower beds, leafy trees and a fountain.

No one is quite sure of the location or the person captured in the painting, said LAC Assistant Director Joe Bellack. It's probably safe to assume that it's set in Fred Rogers Park, just around the corner from the art center in downtown Latrobe, and that the subject is the painter herself.

"We're not 100% sure, but it probably was painted locally," Bellack said.

The untitled and undated watercolor is the work of Elizabeth Hazlett, who co-founded the center in 2002 with Nancy "Laney" Rogers Crozier, the sister of Latrobe's favorite son, the aforementioned Fred Rogers. It's paired with a watercolor done by Crozier.

Hazlett, also known as "Libby," was a lifelong resident of Latrobe and was active in a number of community organizations. She was born in 1926 and died in 2008.

The story is that Hazlett told Crozier about her desire to develop a community art center during a Sunday service at Latrobe Presbyterian Church, where both were members, said LAC Executive Director Michael Tusay.

Hazlett attributed her passion for the arts to the influence of Mary Martha Himler, a noted local artist and art educator who was her high school art teacher. In 1936, Himler co-founded the Greater Latrobe School District's Special Art Collection, which today contains hundreds of works by regional artists.

In addition to working with watercolor, Hazlett also painted with acrylics, Tusay said. She participated in art workshops around the area and exhibited her work in several regional galleries.

The center's paintings by Hazlett and Crozier "seem to be pretty good representations of their skill levels," Tusay said.

"Laney put a heavier focus on realism. Libby was more playful," he said. "She's not just painting what's in front of her, she also embellishes it."

Editor's note: Behind the Art is a recurring series highlighting artistic works throughout the county.

Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .