Cal U hosts unique Polish poster exhibition
CALIFORNIA – The Department of Art and Design at California University of Pennsylvania has on exhibit PLAKAT! Poster Art from Poland, unique works of art that are on loan from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. While there were PLAKAT! catalogs on display at Thursday’s opening reception that showed about 100 pieces that the entire collection contains, this particular exhibit displayed 30 unique examples. The catalog described the artwork as something that “subverts the notion that communication consists of a passive transfer of information from one party to another,” rather the exhibit “seizes the viewer’s attention engaging him or her in a process of negotiation with the image.”
The colorful posters seen on display depict a wide range of subjects.
One Shakespearean inspired piece entitled “Romeo and Julia,” depicts a drop of blood with a man and woman embracing inside.
Among students examining the posters, Cal U President Dr. Angelo Armenti Jr. and his wife, Barbara, also enjoyed the exhibit.
“We come to all of the art displays we have in this gallery,” said Armenti. “My wife is of Polish ancestry, so we both wanted to stop here. We believe in the arts, and sometimes in this gallery we show art by faculty and students as well. But we love coming here to see the beautiful art.”
Armenti said he believed the Poster Art from Poland was a traveling exhibit that has been shown at several college campuses.
Laura Defazio, chairwoman for the Department of Art and Design, said the artwork would be on display for about a month in the Gallery of Fine Arts on the third floor of the university library.
“Next Friday, Dr. Irene Kabala from IUP will be here to give a talk on these pieces,” said Defazio. “That will give people a chance to learn more about them.”
The gallery is open Monday and Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday 2 to 6 p.m.
The display remains until Nov. 17.