Out & About: Seton Hill gallery shows artwork of area art students, educators

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

Oct. 21—When she got the invitation, Shannon Pultz thought she was too busy to participate in a student-teacher art exhibition at Seton Hill University.

It took a sixth-grader at Pittsburgh CAPA, where Pultz is chair of the visual art department, to change her mind.

Their work is showing in "Cultivations: Art Educators & Their Students," running through Nov. 18 in the Harlan Gallery in the university's Art Center, at 201 W. Otterman St. in Greensburg.

The student, Hayal Mina Anavatan, whom Pultz described as "a very talented artist," asked if there were any area art competitions she could enter.

"I wasn't sure about doing (the show) until this child asked me, then I said, 'Let's do this,'" Pultz said.

The pair are joined by students and instructors from seven other area school districts.

In the past, Seton Hill has staged the joint student-teacher exhibition every three or four years, said PatiBeachley, chair of the art and design department and professor of art. "Cultivations" is the first such show since the pandemic.

"A lot of our alumni are teaching art, so (the show) offers us the possibility to show their work, to connect with the schools and to bring the community into this building," Beachley said.

"It shows students they could possibly come here or make art in a building like this," she added.

For many students, it's their first gallery show, said gallery director Emily Franicola.

"We're very proud of this building, so it's a great opportunity for them to showcase their work with their mentors and to bring in people from surrounding schools to see what is going on here," she said.

In addition to Pultz and Anavatan, participating educators and students, respectively, along with their schools, are:

—Erin Riggi with Ben Petnuch, Greensburg Central Catholic

—Darryl Audia Jr. and Kelly Audia with Emily Frazier and Angelina Raneiri, Greensburg Salem

—Justin Hicks and Aaron Allen with Madison Dingler and Isabella Cecconello, Hempfield Area

—Kylie Mulnix with Rey Seath, Mt. Pleasant Area

—Chris Satterfield and Adam Barrett, Norwin

—Kasey Neiderlander and Harris Woodward, Pittsburgh Central Catholic

—Rebecca Gartley and Addison Miller, Uniontown Area.

Seen at the Thursday evening opening reception: Chris Furman, John and Tiffany Hizer, Dawn Miller, Alex Hicks, Caitlin Neill, Emily O'Shea, Gina Pivirotti and Amy Bean.

Gallery hours are 1-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. Fridays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays. For more information, email Franicola at efranicola@setonhill.edu or visit setonhill.edu.

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