art

Seton Hill University | Senior Exhibition 

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

by: Kerrick Shaw

Handmade monsters and canvas creatures lurked throughout the Seton Hill Arts Center with one student’s show pulling a full house on opening night. 

Jake Carnahan-Curcio, a senior art therapy major at Seton Hill University, recently wrapped up his senior exhibition titled “Creature Feature,” a deeply personal and imaginative body of work. 

Held in the Arts Center’s Critique Room from April 25 through May 10, the show’s opening reception was held on April 26 from 6 to 8 pm and had over 50 attendees connecting with the deeper meaning of the exhibition. 

“I’ve aspired to have a solo show since my freshman year of college,” Carnahan-Curcio said. “I didn’t know I would be making creatures until January of 2024, when I made my first painting about my mom who has stage 3A breast cancer; it then spiraled into a series about grief and how people cope with it. I struck gold with my painting ‘Der Doppelgänger,’ as he became the face of my series.” 

Carnahan-Curcio’s “Der Doppelgänger” sculpture.

Photo Courtesy: Jake Carnahan-Curcio

“Creature Feature” was his first self-curated exhibition full of his own work; however, he previously had the opportunities to curate two Seton Hill shows involving other students’ work and his own. 

In 2023, he put together the “Women in Art” exhibition, full of work from the school’s Women in Art seminar course. The following year, he curated a show titled “Intersections,” featuring work from beginner to advanced classes of his and the other advanced painting student at the time, Keelin Becker. 

“As part of the Professional Practices for the Arts course, we were given the opportunity to apply for a solo show or be part of a group exhibition,” he said. “The application was a proposal; showing the work that would be in the show, which is when I had to come up with a concept.” 

Other students visited the gallery room frequently throughout the exhibition’s stay. One student, freshman fine arts major Maxwell Hoffman, described Carnahan-Curcio’s character as “iconic.” 

“I really love the collaged, almost computer pop-up motif among all of his paintings,” Hoffman said. “I remember hearing people completely outside of the art majors talking about how excited they were to see the show. I got to see the evolution of his work periodically by just visiting the studio rooms.” 

Hoffman looks forward to his own senior exhibition, regardless of being a first-year student. He explained that he has already started to “conceptualize” his plan. 

The show’s reception was complimented with refreshments and a giveaway Carnahan-Curcio held through his Instagram. The winner was given a custom-printed T-shirt, a small sculpture of his character Der Doppelgänger and a print.  

The T-shirt, print and sculpture included in the giveaway.

Photo Courtesy: Jake Carnahan-Curcio

“The turnout was great,” he said. “I want to say over 50 people came; a lot of friends and family, but also underclassmen that I didn’t personally know and others who were just interested in the work.” 

GS’ art teacher Mrs. Kelley Audia expressed that everything about Seton Hill’s art program is “awesome.”  

“Every experience I’ve ever had there has been great,” Mrs. Audia said. “The facilities are great and the professors too; Mr. Audia and I have gotten to be a part of a bunch of different shows there. They have a really nice partnership with us, giving us a lot of cool chances for students.” 

Starting in the fall, following his graduation from Seton Hill, Carnahan-Curcio will be moving onto a program through PennWest Global Online. 

“I’m graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in art therapy,” Carnahan-Curcio said. “I’ll be doing the Masters of Science in Counseling art therapy program through PennWest. I already have a lot more ideas for a neon series I’m working on; I would love to do another show in the future.” 

The Golden Lion Shoppe 

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By: Quinn Isenberg 

Students looking for a snack throughout the school day will be excited to hear that The Golden Lion Shoppe has reopened this school year.  

The shoppe is open every Tuesday and Thursday during advisory and is located across from the cafeteria. Students interested in the shoppe can get a pass from their advisory teacher to purchase items.  

“There’s mainly food, drinks and snacks like candy bars and chips,” shoppe supervisor Mrs. Leisa Ecklund said. “We also sell school supplies.”  

Food and school supplies aren’t all the shoppe has to offer. The Golden Lion Shoppe also acts as a way for students to get work experience.  

Students running The Lion Shoppe during advisory.

Photo by: Quinn Isenberg

“We wanted students to learn,” Mrs. Ecklund said. “We wanted the high school students to be able to come and get a snack and drink and then we also wanted our students to learn social skills that they can use for their future when they graduate high school.”  

The shoppe is an excellent simulation of what it’s like to work retail for the Life Skills students seeking work experience.  

“It feels like you’re actually doing business,” junior Joseph Sabolcik (JW) said.   

This business is teaching the students valuable things that they can take with them into adulthood and use in the real world.  

“It has taught me the different values of working and how it has more advantages than it seems,” freshman Belle Steward said.  

Working for the first time is difficult for most and can take time to adjust to. This opportunity is giving the students a head start in the workforce.  

“They get more comfortable interacting with other people,” Ecklund said. “I also see some students come out of their shell a little bit.”  

The shoppe not only benefits those who are working, but also the students who come to buy from them. 

“I can see the shoppe benefitting students because it provides a way for the students behind the register to learn how to use it, and it provides the students in front of the register a nice snack before third block,” sophomore Royce Boatright said.  

Proceeds from the shoppe are going towards supporting the Life Skills students for their hard work.  

“In the past we’ve used it towards field trips or educational tools for students like headphones,” Ecklund said. “Right now, we’re just trying to get up and running.” 

Greensburg ArtsWalk  

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By Samarah Guy  

Photo by: Samarah Guy

On Saturday April 20th, GS students participated in the Greensburg ArtsWalk.  

The ArtsWalk is an annual event in Greensburg’s “Art Alley” where local artists and small businesses get to display and sell their work while enjoying live performances, food trucks, small activities and much more.  

“ArtsWalk is a collaborative effort between the Westmoreland Cultural Trust, Westmoreland Museum of American Art and Seton Hill Performing Arts to help showcase local artists and performers, while also generating downtown business,” Event and Program Specialist for Westmoreland Cultural Trust Ari Burkel said. “Many businesses within the cultural district of downtown Greensburg open their shops up to galleries, showcases, performances and activities that help advocate the importance of all kinds of art.”  

In the fall, students created their own individual designs and painted skateboards that are currently being displayed throughout the small businesses in Greensburg.  

The skateboards were auctioned off to raise money for two different causes: half of the funds raised went to The Giving Tree project (a GS tradition that helps students who may need financial assistance during Christmas time), while the other half went towards the art department for items like supplies, exhibition opportunities and field trips.  

Last year’s group of art students worked with partners to paint wooden chairs which were then auctioned off to raise money for the same purposes.  

“Last year we did an art auction of these chairs,” art teacher Mr. Darryl Audia said. “We didn’t make them go with the ArtsWalk because it was a month ahead. The local businesses supported this and said, ‘Why don’t we do it with something that’s already existing, which is the ArtsWalk.’”  

This year was the first year GS got to participate in the ArtsWalk. 16 students, Alexa Anker, John Ashbaugh, Sydney Dainty, Sarah Glowa, Josalynn Hayden, Adrien Isenberg, Laila Kerns, Paige Kline, Lucy McChesney, Chyna Moore, David Mori, Giavanna Rosensteel, Adrianna Scalzo, Kerrick Shaw, Tyler Shaw and Brad Skero were acknowledged for their contributions to the ArtsWalk.  

“Having my work showcased at an event like this was really cool,” Ashbaugh said. “Also, when we received our certificates from Mr. Audia, I felt honored to be recognized in front of so many people for my creativity.”  

The students were presented with certificates by Audia, after which they signed banners of their boards for display in the Art Alley.  

Photo by: Samarah Guy

 “I care very much for all my students, but it’s moments like these where I am so proud of not just their talent but also their selflessness,” he said. “It is one thing to make a killer work of art…that’s great stuff for sure.  However, it’s quite another matter to then go and give that awesome artwork away to benefit others. I have so much respect for our student skateboard design team.”