YORK, Pa. — An art show featuring the works of Frederick C. Haag, associate professor of visual arts at Penn State York, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, at Susquehanna Art Museum, located at 1401 North 3rd St. in Harrisburg. Haag’s works will be displayed in the lobby of the gallery through May 8. Friday's opening is free and open to the public
“The pieces in this show encompass my major subject areas: the figure, the studio interior chairs, and the still life,” said Haag. “My sensibility is autobiographical, so these pieces reflect my surroundings and experiences. I usually work from direct observation, but I also use memories and conversation as departure points,” he said. “I have noticed that, over time, this body of work often references itself through specific aspects of subject, color, composition, and even particularities such as patterns and brushwork. I like the duality in both form and content: ambiguity and clarity; color and draftsmanship; manufactured and natural.”
To learn more about the exhibition, visit SusquehannaArtMuseum.org/galleries/Fred-Haag.
Since 1987, Haag has taught a variety of classes at Penn State York and exhibited his work both regionally and nationally. He has received numerous awards for his artwork. At the York campus, he teaches art appreciation, drawing, design and painting. He augments traditional media with design software in the computer lab and has students design logos, ads and other materials for local community organizations. He also encourages his students to create blogs as showcases for their work, as well as a place for ongoing artistic reflection. He serves as the adviser to the Visual Arts Club on campus and encourages students to display their work.
For the past 17 years, students in his class have created designs for the campus’ yearly Unity Day celebration. The campus community votes on the student entries and the winning design is featured on a T-shirt to commemorate the yearly event on campus, which celebrates diversity.
Haag was raised in Pennsylvania and attended the University of the Arts (the Philadelphia College of Art) in Philadelphia, where he graduated with honors in 1984 with a bachelor of fine arts in painting and drawing. He went on to earn a master of fine arts in painting and drawing from Penn State.
In addition to numerous awards for his artwork, Haag received the prestigious Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching and was named a 2012 Penn State Teaching Fellow. Established in 1988 by the Penn State Alumni Association, in conjunction with undergraduate and graduate governing bodies, the Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching honors distinguished teaching and provides encouragement and incentive for excellence in teaching.
In 2003, Haag was honored with the James H. Burness Award for Excellence in Teaching at Penn State York, and in 2002 he was named the recipient of the Penn State York Advising Award for his outstanding work with students.
Haag resides on a farm in Hellam, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Marcy.