By Daniel Bettendorf, Living & Arts Editor
A reception for an art collection titled “Roadside Elegance” was held on Sept. 6 in the Blough-Weis Library.
The collection featured pieces from local artists Marilyn Paul and Vicki Renn. Paul and Renn were originally contacted by Jeff Martin, circulation and collections maintenance assistant, who knew each other through the Susquehanna Art Society.
“Years ago, I was the president of the Susquehanna Art Society,” Martin said. “That’s when I first got to know [Paul] and [Renn].”
“We’ve known him about as long as we’ve known each other,” Renn added.
“They’re perennial winners in the local art shows,” Martin continued. “They’re both very talented and active in the Susquehanna Arts Society.”
“They’re very successful-two of the higher thought-of artists in the area,” Martin added.
Paul and Renn both taught art for multiple years and first met through their work.
When Renn, who taught art at Milton Area High School, took maternity leave and later took time off to raise her sons, Paul transferred to the high school and took Renn’s position.
“First we were colleagues and then as we were making our art we began to exhibit together,” Paul explained. “We’ve exhibited quite a few times together.”
“Once we retired—which we’re very lucky to be able to do at a relatively good age— then we were able to focus more on our art and showing work,” Paul said.
Renn specializes in water- colors, while Paul works with collagraph and etching.
“I love the thick paper that I use, because it takes that texture,” Paul said. “I’m not only showing the texture: I’m creating the texture.”
Both Paul and Renn feature nature in their artwork, al- though they use the subject in different ways.
“I do all wildlife art,” Renn said. “I love flowers and woods and all those kinds of things, so I start out with plant life and then I decide what I’m going to put into it—a lot of birds and goats or bigger birds like owls and things like that.”
“I [did] a lot of people’s dogs and horses early on—I don’t do that so much anymore,” Renn continued.
Paul said, “A lot of times I will look at the transitory idea of nature and the fact that it doesn’t last very long.”
“My latest [pieces] are works looking at women’s empowerment and figures I’ve placed in nature because I find that to have a spiritual and a healing mode for me.”
“One is called ‘Staying Centered,’ which I think you can do if you spend some time outdoors and in nature,” Paul added. “One is titled ‘Gathering Strength,’ which, if you spend time in nature, I think you can do that.”
Renn also noted how themes of nature arose in her works that were showcased at the art reception.
“[One piece] is called ‘One Last Glance’ and it’s actually a rabbit—that when you’re in the yard and when you scare them they like, ‘hop, hop, hop,’ but they always look back at you one time,” Renn said. “Then they go into the forest or tree line.”
Martin emphasized the detail and intricacies in both artists’ work, which was a highlight for the exhibition.
“You can just sit there and look at the pictures for 30 minutes—there’s so much in them,” Martin said.
“Their work hangs perfectly together because there’s so much detail in them and you can just look at their work for a longer period of time than like, Andy Warhol,” Martin continued. “You look at his: ‘OK, it’s great, you know,’ but then you move onto the next because what you see you can see from 30 feet away as well as 30 inches away.”
“With their work, you [have to] be practically right on top of it to appreciate all the intricate time and energy they spent painting,” Martin added. “It’s much more fun to look at. There’s much more depth to the image and interest for most people.”
While many art exhibitions on campus focus on work created by students, the reception on Wednesday focused on artists from the greater area out- side Susquehanna.
“For one art show a year—the first one since the students don’t come back right away— we want to have the art show up and running when the students all come back, so it makes sense to use local artists rather than student work because we may not get it up for two or three weeks,” Martin said.
“So, what we’re trying to do is get local artists to do one of the shows,” Martin continued. “Then we have student work for at least two shows and then we have a fourth show where we like to try to get faculty involved.”
The current exhibition will be on display in the library until fall break.
