FACES IN GOVERNMENT;

Portrait Artist MARCENE GLOVER

FACETS IN LEADERSHIP

Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School Students

This project was supported by

the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts,

a state agency, through its regional arts funding partnership,

Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA).

State government funding comes through an annual appropriation

by Pennsylvania’s General Assembly and from

the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

PPA is administered in this region by

the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance.

FACES IN GOVERNMENT; FACETS IN LEADERSHIP

Paintings about Community Leadership

Portrait Artist Marcene Glover

commissioned by

U.S. Congressional Members to portray

important issues facing our country

This project includes a residency with Glover at the

Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School

for juvenile offenders

at Adelphi Village, Latrobe Pennsylvania.

These students are inspired to visualize and portray

their future contributions to community

and appreciation of leadership qualities.

To learn more visit

www.artessence.info

Harlan Gallery Seton Hill University Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Reception and Gallery Tour September 25th, 5:00-8:00 pm

Exhibit continues through October 9, 2008

Art is more than just decorative; it is a means of communication inherent to all of us.

The artwork in this exhibit is the expression of students’ obstacles, frustrations, dreams, goals and plans for the future. Richard J. Ketterer students at Adelphi Village juvenile correctional facility worked with Artist Marcene Glover to develop the symbolism and self portraits exhibited here. They considered leadership qualities, as they developed colors, textures, shapes, and content to describe their paths toward their desired place in community.

Also in this exhibit is the Faces in Government collection of congressional portraits by Marcene Glover. She was commissioned by each Representative to portray their likeness and person and political views through the background symbolism. Glover works from live sittings with the Representatives at House Congressional buildings in Washington D.C. She interviews each member as they collaborate with her to determine what images and symbolism or letterism will best represent their outlook.

These portraits are on loan for this exhibit courtesy of PA State and U.S. House Representatives.

In keeping with the Faces in Leadership theme, other portraits by Glover are exhibited here that reference outstanding leadership qualities.

The power of this simple image on the left is clear. The weight of the message came across as the student brushed on the dark paint, and then pulled the end of the handle, digging into the paint, engraving the cell bars deep into the paper. This was in response to the question What image symbolizes your past, and obstacles you need to work to overcome.

The above image reflects that as students work toward specific

The above image reflects that as these students work toward specific goals, their personal inspirations shine through.

inspirations

Obstacles

	Past: was crazy Present: fixing the crazy Future: a good mellow life
I had a stormy past, and it always went bad, and I went off quick like a bomb. I want to do graphic designing in the future.
	Past: not knowing how or who I’m getting to go where I need with Present: to know that I’m gonna have peace later on Future: Having Peace
Untitled obstacle symbolism	Past symbol: being arrested Present symbol: being locked up Future symbol: employed as a butcher
Untitled past, present, future symbolism	Obstacle: getting away from drugs and jail Goal: to be free Inspiration: God, money, Mom, Gram

	My obstacles include building a loving relationship, death by my hands, seeing the son and light for what it is along with the blurred times of drug usage. My inspirations are my loving girlfriend and the strength she has shown me and the light that she has brought to me and care that I’ve never known before.
	The first symbol is handcuffs for being locked up in the past. The second one is a baby-bottle for my newborn daughter. The third is a car rim to symbolize success.

Mood expressive student self-portraits

“Through Dana’s Eyes” collaboration

Through Dana’s Eyes is a collaboration between Glover and a lovely young lady who is paralyzed, and blinks her eyes to communicate. These two have been working together for

several months, as part of an Art Therapy program to bring enrichment to Dana. During this time Glover has demonstrated techniques for achieving various textured effects in the paint.

As Dana learned these techniques, she let Glover know which

she preferred for her portrait. Dana also made the color,

medium, style and subject symbolism choices.

If you look through Dana’s eyes, you may notice butterflies, flowers, and even a horse that she cares a great deal about.

If you look through your own point of view, you may discover

other shapes that symbolize your interests, like fish… birds...angels. Paintings are a communication of ideas. That’s why letting your ideas and observations into the viewing process gives you the most meaning from a painting.

It has been rewarding to work with these students, and see them put forth so much meaning and effort.

Thank you to Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School, Students, and classroom Art Teacher Kathie Brown, for joining in this residency.

Thank you to Seton Hill University, Gallery Director Carol Brode, National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance for making this exhibit and residency possible.

Thank you to our Government Leaders who have loaned these portraits for the exhibit, and have supplied the inspiration for the project, and have collaborated with me during the artistic process.