Ashley Lopez graduated from Luzerne County Community College and received an associate’s degree in Applied Science with a concentration in Graphic Design. She will graduate from BU this December, with a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design and Printmaking. Currently, printmaking is her main medium but she freelances graphic design.

     Lopez’s pieces in the show fit with her nature theme that she consistently explores. All of her pieces are done with printmaking methods and were created this semester, both in and out of the studio. When asked about the pieces she put in the show, she replied, “I love to combine silkscreen, wood carving and calligraphy, and experiment with their layers. I think [these pieces] are all cohesive as a show and turned out fantastically.”

     After this show concludes, she will have work from both of her concentrations for her section of the Senior Exit Show, along with a presentation. In addition, she has been working on an installation for the exit show, which involves help from fellow artists, Rowan Shaffer, Sarah Foster, Kate Hennessy and Destiny Samsel.

     Lopez’s pieces are pulled from prior work that she has drawn or photographed. Revisiting these old images of flowers, insects and trees has allowed her to elaborate and show her understanding of the classes she has taken at both LCCC and BU.

     She used wood carving to show depth and creates the foundation of the piece. Layering on top of the wood carving print, she prints with a silkscreen process to add color and to show intricate details. Placing these printmaking processes on top of each other is extremely difficult, but the time and effort put into these pieces are clear.

     Ellen Brennan graduated in the Fall of 2016 with bachelor’s degree in Art Studio, concentration Graphic Design and Fiber Art. She works full-time as a Graphic Design Associate, but experiments with fiber at home.

    When asked about her connection between work and the show, Brennan said, “Fiber art helps me to work through things in life from a different perspective.” She has had work in the Schulman Gallery in Luzerne County Community College (where she won the 2nd place award for a 3D art piece), two pieces at The Exchange Gallery and one piece at the Danville Arts Council Art for the Body Show.

     She plans on submitting more work to an upcoming Fiber Art show at The Exchange. In addition, Brennan and Lopez are planning to collaborate for a piece in next semester’s annual show, PADME.

     Continuing with the natural theme, all of Brennan’s work for this show looks fairly delicate, but after really looking at it, the strength in the fabrics are clear to see. Strength is seen through the use of flowers, thin fabrics and weathered paper.

    Brennan’s strongest piece is We Were Never Really Born, We Will Never Really Die – Memories Unfinished. The appeal of the piece begins with the soft fabric used to connect the flowers. Each flower is unique, yet similar to the rest.

   The overall shape is a sort of lattice pattern, but it trails off to one side, unfinished. Using the title, one can infer that each flower is a memory and the unfinished side shows that memories will continue; things will keep going on.

Students and locals enjoy the many pieces of art on exhibit at the Greenly Center, downtown.
A work of art from Ellen Brennan on display in the Greenly Center. Brennan graduated from Bloomsburg University in the fall of 2016 and is now employed as a full-time Graphic Design Associate.