UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Members of the Penn State Clay Club will be selling their work at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, July 13-16, thanks to a collaboration between the festival and the Arts Entrepreneurship program in the College of Arts and Architecture. They will be located at a double booth, P-07/08, on Pollock Road.
Jonathan Gangi, director of the Arts Entrepreneurship program, spearheaded the collaboration, working with Rick Bryant, executive director of the festival. He noted that the participating artists were vetted through the standard jury process to enter the show — which involves an online application and submitting images of work — just like the professional artists who apply. They include 2017 master of fine arts graduates Stephanie Seguin, Penelope VanGrisnven and Courtney Michaud; current master of fine arts candidate Bradley Klem; and Mary Cate Fruehan, a senior bachelor of fine arts candidate double-majoring in studio art and art education.
According to Seguin, the Clay Club members have spent the past few months making new work, designing and fabricating their booth displays, talking with the arts festival office and Gangi regarding what they can expect during the event, and creating and circulating promotional materials. They are selling primarily functional work, in addition to some sculptural and decorative pieces.
The College of Arts and Architecture was a key partner in establishing the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in the 1970s, but students have not had a formal presence for many years. Student involvement this year aligns with the Arts Entrepreneurship program’s goals. “We want to encourage experiential learning for students and opportunities for real-world interactions and applying principles learned in the classroom,” said Gangi.
The College of Arts and Architecture frequently has alumni participating in the festival. This year’s alumni participants include William Snyder III, Jake Johnson, Sharon Teaman and Brandon Kline.
For more information about the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, visit arts-festival.com.