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Southmoreland school displays art collection

By Jackie Beranek 4 min read

ALVERTON – Southmoreland Area School District joined an elite club last year when a forward-thinking senior high school art teacher decided that the school district should start its own art collection. Susan Kiren, who has since retired, started the program because she had “the desire to integrate art into the daily lives of school children and the community by developing a significant collection of art,” according to her successor Elizabeth Zgorecki.

Zgorecki said the Southmoreland Patrons of the Arts program’s purpose is to promote and support the students of Southmoreland High School in their pursuit to establish a permanent art collection housed in their school in Alverton.

She said that the art collection, in a variety of forms, was patterned after successfully established collections at Latrobe Area High School and Greensburg Salem High School, both in Westmoreland County.

Zgorecki said that Southmoreland Patrons of the Arts is committed to the premise that the appreciation of art is a life enhancing and enriching practice that should be encouraged and supported.

In that effort, the second annual art gala was held last week in the high school cafeteria. Southmoreland Patrons of the Arts members gathered to converse, share a meal and to get their first look at the latest art acquisition titled “Walking On” by artist Eric Feather.

A hand-colored photo by artist Alexis Dillon called “Angels and Demons” was also purchased for the school by Superintendent Dr. John Halfhill and his wife, Rebecca Halfhill. Zgorecki said the Halfhills’ purchase cost $400, while the Feather piece was $800.

Both pieces will be hung in the school and will join the other four pieces that have already been purchased. Zgorecki said, “Art captures the history and heart of life. It is the enduring expression of thought, emotion and spirituality.”

The art collection, according to Zgorecki, is being built through a cooperative effort of student groups including the art and student councils, and the community-based Patrons of the Arts.

The students assist in fund-raising and the selection of the works to be added to the collection. Zgorecki said the Southmoreland Patrons of the Arts encourages community members to consider making a monetary donation beyond that of the entry fee for the gala, which supports the students’ ambitious endeavor to establish their permanent collection.

“We had a great crowd for the Art Gala,” said Zgorecki. “Our numbers continue to grow and everyone seems to enjoy viewing the works under consideration for the collection.”

This year, nine pieces were displayed and presented by student presenters. The first was “Angels and Demons,” presented by Steven Sandoval, while the second was an acrylic painting titled “0 to 60 (in no time at all),” by artist Robin Grass and presented by Trevan Allinger.

The third was a sculpture titled “Sculpted Identity,” by Jane Ogren and presented by Audrey Graft; the fourth was a mixed media titled “Images of Memory,” by Ronald Nigro and presented by Elliott Gavin; and the fifth was a bronze sculpture titled “The Morning After,” by artist Karryl and presented by Lara Schenk.

The sixth piece was an ink drawing titled “Queena Sheba,” by artist Marcia Comer and was presented by Samantha Stewart; the seventh was a pencil drawing titled “Square Nest,” by artist Kathleen Kase Burk and presented by Alysia Swank; the eighth was an acrylic painting titled “Larry,” by artist Allen Maloney and presented by Marion Resnick; and the ninth was “Walking On.”

The Halfhills, in memory of Howard Stock, a former teacher in the Southmoreland Area School District, donated “Angels and Demons.” Mara Lee Hahn, Susan Endersbe, Dr. and Mrs. Edward Thornblade, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Stock and Elizabeth Stock made additional monetary donations.

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