Giving this exhibit the old ‘collage’ try

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Gillian Mazur, Staff writer

Founded in Ohio in 1982 by Gretchen Bierbaum to promote and recognize collage as a major art medium, the National Collage Society has members throughout the United States and other countries.

The National Collage Society hosts two exhibits every year.

One is a small member show, and the other is what Cummings Gallery is currently hosting, a juried exhibit.

Over 370 works from over 37 states and two countries were entered into the show.

A three-person jury consisting of Janet Maher, Chuck Scalin and Anderson Turner selected 55 works for Mercyhurst’s exhibit.

They are all current or former art professors from various universities.

Not only does Mercyhurst have the honor of hosting the display of a juried group of works, but Mercyhurst Art Professor Daniel Burke was elected by the National Collage Society to serve as this year’s exhibit’s Awards Judge.

Burke selected 12 works out of 55 to win several prizes.

Awards this year included prizes ranging from cash to a one-year subscription to Kolaj magazine.

One work that received an award was titled “F Stop” by Anne Spence of Milford, New Jersey.

Her playing card inspired collage on a folding wooden card table received the Michael Rosenfeld Gallery Award.

This work was interesting be-cause the way it was collaged made it look like a camera shutter closing and also like the iris of an eye.

Another award-winning piece was a collage sculpture titled “Plain Sailing Weather” by Gwen Waight of Peninsula, Ohio.

This collage sculpture received the NCS Cash Award and was assembled out of beach glass, mirrors, a sail, wood, old hardware, glue and candy wrappers.

The show’s reception was held on Nov. 7 and had a great turnout from the Mercyhurst and Erie art communities.

Parkhurst catered the event with delectable food, from bacon-wrapped mashed-potatoes to mini club sandwiches.

Many people mingled and examined the artwork amid the heavenly sounds of Ellen Putnam Paquette’s Celtic harp performance.

The winners of the show were applauded during the reception.

If you haven’t visited the Cummings Art Gallery yet, you can still see the exhibition from Nov. 4 to Dec. 7.

It is a show you will not want to miss!