Art & Design

�鶹��Ƶ Welcomes Community for Annual Christmas Vespers 2026

Jenny — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 15:10:37 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Welcomes Community for Annual Christmas Vespers 2026 Jenny Thu, 11/12/2026 - 10:10

�鶹��Ƶ invites the community to begin the holiday season at its annual Christmas Vespers service on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 4:30 p.m. in the historic Alumnae Chapel in Thomson Hall. The service will be led by the Rev. Andrew Hart, the Nancy Adams Besch �鶹��Ƶ ’48 and Elisabeth Hudnut Clarkson �鶹��Ƶ ’47 college chaplain, and Dillon Beede, director of choral activities and chair of music.

�鶹��Ƶ “We hope this service serves as a reminder of the care, compassion, and connection that unite us, and inspires us to extend that spirit within our communities and beyond, �鶹��Ƶ ” said Hart and Beede.

Inspired by the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, first held on Christmas Eve in 1918 at King �鶹��Ƶ ’s College in England, the service will feature readings, anthems, and carols that encourage reflection and spiritual preparation for the holiday season.

The program will include performances by the Cumberland Valley Chorale, the BrassWorksbrass quintet, organist David Erickson, and pianist Diana Reinert, along with readings by members of the �鶹��Ƶ and Chambersburg communities.

Wilson �鶹��Ƶ ’s Christmas Vespers is free and open to the public and will also be livestreamed. For more information, visit www.wilson.edu/vespers.

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Student Art from �鶹��Ƶ on Display at Coyle Free Library

Jenny — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:25:19 +0000

Student Art from �鶹��Ƶ on Display at Coyle Free Library Jenny Fri, 10/30/2026 - 13:25

The Visual Arts Invitational, an exhibit featuring artwork by �鶹��Ƶ students, will open Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, at the Coyle Free Library in Chambersburg. The exhibition showcases the creativity and artistic growth of students across a range of disciplines.

Visitors will see original work created by Wilson students enrolled in Drawing I, Intro to Design, Digital Photography and Graphic Design courses. The Visual Arts Invitational features a variety of media, highlighting the breadth of creative expressions found across the �鶹��Ƶ art curriculum.

Now in its fourth year, the partnership between �鶹��Ƶ and Coyle Free Library continues to provide students with an opportunity to share their work with the broader community. The library is not only a cornerstone of the community but also shares a special connection with Wilson. Lou Cowles, a reference librarian with the Franklin County Library System and a member of the �鶹��Ƶ Class of 1964, has helped foster the collaboration between the two institutions and bring the exhibition to the public.

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�鶹��Ƶ ArtsFest 2027 Now Accepting Proposals

Jenny — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:09:59 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ ArtsFest 2027 Now Accepting Proposals Jenny Thu, 10/01/2026 - 15:09

The ArtsFest Committee at �鶹��Ƶ has opened the call for submissions for ArtsFest 2027, scheduled for April 5 through 9, 2027.

This year, ArtsFest will explore the theme �鶹��Ƶ “ART IS... PRESENCE. �鶹��Ƶ ” The committee is seeking visual, performing, and literary artists and arts educators from Chambersburg and surrounding communities interested in sharing their work and expertise during the weeklong event. Proposed activities may include presentations, readings, performances, projects, workshops, exhibitions, immersive experiences, or other arts-based formats.

Individuals or groups interested in submitting a proposal should do so by Nov. 15, 2026, through the ArtsFest webpage at www.wilson.edu/artsfest. All ideas are welcome, and the committee is available to assist applicants in developing their concepts. While proposals should be self-supported financially, limited funding may be available on a case-by-case basis.

ArtsFest is a dynamic, multi-day celebration of creativity and community that evolved from �鶹��Ƶ's traditional Arts Day. Since its reimagining in 2023, the festival has showcased remarkable artists, artwork, and creative opportunities while becoming a signature event for Franklin County and the surrounding region.

In 2025 and 2026, ArtsFest expanded to engage campus and community audiences with international artists, art, and artmaking opportunities that reach across disciplines, subject matter, and boundaries, fostering relationships, connections, and ideas that inspire positive change through the arts.

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Meeting Marcia Wolfson Ray

Jenny — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:19:34 +0000

Meeting Marcia Wolfson Ray Jenny Tue, 09/22/2026 - 11:19

Written by Parker Knepper '27

On Wednesday, September 16 we had the pleasure of hosting artist Marcia Wolfson Ray and her work �鶹��Ƶ “The Ten Thousand Things �鶹��Ƶ ” in the Cooley Gallery. Wolfson Ray showcased two- and three-dimensional artwork which reflects her deep affection for nature. The displayed sculptures are composed of burnt and bleached wood that were gathered from marshes in Maryland, as well as willow dowels tied together intersecting the wood stumps. Wolfson Ray describes her asymmetrical artwork as having a progress of evolution and being totally random, giving her a sense of content. She shared with her audience �鶹��Ƶ “The importance of art is to explore �鶹��Ƶ ”.

Alongside Wolfson Ray �鶹��Ƶ ’s presentation of artwork there was an incorporated message of self-improvement and exploration. She highlighted the importance of how peer feedback from college professors and even a physical therapist helped improve her artwork for the better. �鶹��Ƶ “Compliments are great �鶹��Ƶ …but do they help you push your work further? �鶹��Ƶ ”. Wolfson Ray encourages people to explore new directions within their work, leading to new places they wouldn't have thought they could reach.

�鶹��Ƶ “The art is very beautiful and so different, especially with the natural materials used. Very interesting and different from what Wilson typically shows �鶹��Ƶ ” - Riley Braswell �鶹��Ƶ ’28

�鶹��Ƶ “When you �鶹��Ƶ ’re an artist a part of the great thing is getting your work out for people to see. �鶹��Ƶ ”- Marcia Wolfson Ray

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�鶹��Ƶ Presents New Exhibition by Artist Marcia Wolfson Ray

Jenny — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 18:02:05 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Presents New Exhibition by Artist Marcia Wolfson Ray Jenny Thu, 09/03/2026 - 14:02

�鶹��Ƶ will open an art exhibit featuring artwork by Baltimore visual artist Marcia Wolfson Ray on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in the Cooley Gallery, located on the second floor of the John Stewart Memorial Library (JSML). The exhibition will run through Dec. 11, 2026, and is open to the public at no cost. Wolfson Ray will deliver a public talk on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 2 p.m. in the Cooley Gallery, and a reception will follow.

The exhibition will showcase two- and three-dimensional work by Wolfson Ray, primarily a sculptor, who investigates processes of transformation and evolution in materials. Wolfson Ray collects pine wood, willow, and a variety of marsh grasses from Maryland �鶹��Ƶ ’s Eastern Shore and then arranges them into complex forms exploring modular units, patterns, and the repetition and variety of forms.

Each winter, the Eastern Shore marshes are burned. This controlled burn allows for healthy spring growth, increases plant variety, and enhances wildlife habitat. The patterns of nature created by the process act as a catalyst for her ideas. Wolfson Ray builds pine scaffolding with willow dowels, then weaves, ties, and glues smaller sticks and grasses to the structure. She writes: �鶹��Ƶ “With each work I create, I take a journey in a very physical sense with a destination that reveals itself step by step. The initiation of this process, which begins when I am out in the landscape, allows me an intimacy with the natural world, which helps me feel connected to the very thing that makes my existence possible. �鶹��Ƶ ”

A native of Baltimore, Wolfson Ray earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Maryland Institute College of Art and taught in Baltimore City public schools for more than 25 years. She has exhibited widely on the Atlantic coast at venues including Coastal Carolina University, College of Southern Maryland, University of Connecticut, Hillyer Art Space in Washington, D.C., Blue Spiral 1 Gallery in Asheville, N.C., among others.

The exhibition is opening during JSM Library �鶹��Ƶ ’s regular hours, Sunday 3-11 p.m., Monday through Thursday 7:45 a.m.-11 p.m., and Friday 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m. The Library is closed on Saturday.

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Five Women Artists Featured in New �鶹��Ƶ Art Exhibition

Jenny — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:47:51 +0000

Five Women Artists Featured in New �鶹��Ƶ Art Exhibition Jenny Tue, 07/28/2026 - 15:47

�鶹��Ƶ is pleased to announce the opening of �鶹��Ƶ “Life, Death, and Objects That Move Us: Three-Dimensional Art, �鶹��Ƶ ” a new exhibition showcasing the work of five women artists whose practices span ceramics, enamel, metal, mixed media, and sculptural assemblage. The exhibition is on view through September 5, 2026, in the Sue Davison Cooley Gallery of the �鶹��Ƶ John Stewart Memorial Library. Admission is free and open to the public.

Curated in collaboration with graduate students enrolled in �鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ ’s Master of Fine Arts summer residency program, the exhibition explores the relationships among material, memory, transformation, and human experience. While each artist approaches her work through distinct materials and personal concerns, unexpected conversations emerge across the exhibition.

The artists are:

Jeannine Dabb, �鶹��Ƶ M.F.A. Class of 2025
Sally Frehn, �鶹��Ƶ M.F.A. Class of 2019
Lisa Harman, �鶹��Ƶ M.F.A. Class of 2018
Denise Joyal, M.F.A., adjunct instructor at �鶹��Ƶ
Margaret Yaukey, M.F.A., visual arts coordinator at Hagerstown Community College

�鶹��Ƶ “The exhibition's title, Life, Death, and Objects That Move Us, invites multiple readings, �鶹��Ƶ ” said Joshua Legg, co-curator and professor of interdisciplinary practice. �鶹��Ƶ “It speaks not only to movement through physical space, but to the emotional, psychological, and spiritual movement that art makes possible. �鶹��Ƶ ”

The exhibition emerged from the MFA summer residency course Curation and Dramaturgy, a four-week intensive in which students examined the role of the curator as a facilitator of dialogue. Throughout the course, students considered what it means to curate not simply by arranging objects within a gallery, but by creating meaningful relationships among artists, artworks, and ideas.

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�鶹��Ƶ Announces 2026 ArtsFest Schedule

Jenny — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:14:05 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Announces 2026 ArtsFest Schedule Jenny Mon, 03/23/2026 - 14:14

�鶹��Ƶ will host ArtsFest 2026 from April 6 �鶹��Ƶ –10, a weeklong celebration showcasing talents of Wilson artists, nationally recognized visiting professionals, and creative programming for the campus and surrounding community. Now in its fourth year, ArtsFest has become a signature Franklin County event that highlights the role of the arts in fostering connection, collaboration, and community dialogue.

The theme for the 2026 festival is �鶹��Ƶ “Art Is �鶹��Ƶ … Experimentation. �鶹��Ƶ ” ArtsFest is supported in part by The Palmer Family Foundation, a fund of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities. This support enables Wilson to welcome four visiting artists whose work reflects innovation across disciplines: Broadway producer Sue Gilad; multidisciplinary visual artist Jada Patterson; letterpress printer and educator Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.; and dance theater collective Project ChArma.

Featured Events and Exhibitions

A Conversation with Sue Gilad

Broadway producer Sue Gilad will lead an insider �鶹��Ƶ ’s discussion on the business of bringing shows from page to stage. She will share behind-the-scenes insights into the creative and logistical forces that shape awardwinning productions. The conversation will also highlight the West End hit �鶹��Ƶ “Burlesque the Musical, �鶹��Ƶ ” co-produced by Wilson President Wesley R. Fugate and Gilad, offering a dual perspective on the collaborative process behind a major international production.

�鶹��Ƶ “A Seed �鶹��Ƶ ’s A Star �鶹��Ƶ ” Exhibition and Talk with Jada Patterson

This exhibition features work by multidisciplinary artist Jada Patterson, whose practice explores identity, adornment, material culture, and Black traditions of hair and body ornamentation, particularly as they relate to girlhood. Patterson �鶹��Ƶ ’s art merges traditional craft with contemporary perspectives, illuminating the complexities and beauty of human experience. Patterson will discuss their influences and artistic journey in a public talk.

�鶹��Ƶ “Consider Everything an Experiment �鶹��Ƶ ” Exhibition and Talk with Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.

This exhibition showcases the expressive, socially engaged letterpress prints of Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. His bold, layered print work blends cultural wisdom, civil rights history, and graphic power, transforming traditional printing into a tool for community engagement and social justice. Kennedy will participate in a public conversation about his process, purpose, and the evolving role of art in social change.

Spirit-led Dance in the New America with Ama Law of Project ChArma

Project ChArma's movement style has always been shaped by a blend of influences: Hip-Hop culture, West African polyrhythms, and post-modern dance flow. In this dance workshop, they will explore solidarity through these forms. They will start with line dances �鶹��Ƶ —literally �鶹��Ƶ “jumping in �鶹��Ƶ ” to learn sequences, embodying the Africanist principle of �鶹��Ƶ “each one teach one. �鶹��Ƶ ” They will review popular line dances, invite participants to share new ones they bring, and close by creating a unique group sequence that marks our coming together in this new space and time. They will discuss the historical significance of these dances in African American resistance, survival, and progress.

The Arts at Wilson created ArtsFest to showcase the remarkable art, artists, and artistic opportunities at the College. The festival seeks to engage the �鶹��Ƶ campus and regional community in creative experiences to open dialogue and build connections that inspire positive change in the world.

ArtsFest is free and open to the public, although some events are limited to the �鶹��Ƶ community or require reservations. A detailed schedule and event descriptions are available at www.wilson.edu/artsfest.

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�鶹��Ƶ Presents New Exhibition by Multidisciplinary Artist Jada Patterson

Jenny — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:16:57 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Presents New Exhibition by Multidisciplinary Artist Jada Patterson Jenny Mon, 02/02/2026 - 12:16

�鶹��Ƶ will open an art exhibit featuring artwork by Pittsburgh-based visual artist Jada Patterson on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in the Cooley Gallery, located on the second floor of the John Stewart Memorial Library (JSML). The exhibition will run through April 10, 2026, and is open to the public at no cost.

The exhibition will showcase the work of Patterson, a multidisciplinary artist and craftsperson who investigates the intersection of traditional craft and high art. Their work examines themes of beauty, adornment, girlhood, and the human condition. At the epicenter of their artistic exploration is a focus on identity, material culture, personal history, and Black traditions of hair and body adornment, particularly as they relate to girlhood.

�鶹��Ƶ “Jada Patterson �鶹��Ƶ ’s ability to fuse traditional craft with contemporary visual language creates an experience that is both personal and universally resonant. We are honored to share their powerful and thought �鶹��Ƶ ‑provoking work with the Wilson community and regional audiences, �鶹��Ƶ ” said Philip Lindsey, professor of fine arts.

Born in Wisconsin and raised in Milwaukee, Patterson began their formal studies at the Kansas City Art Institute, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ceramics and art history. They continued their artistic development through programs at the Ox-Bow School of Art, Charlotte Street Foundation, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and Berea College, among others. Patterson currently serves as a host at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina.

As part of �鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ ’s annual ArtsFest, Patterson will deliver a public talk on Friday, April 10, at 3 p.m. on the first floor of JSM Library.

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�鶹��Ƶ Showcases Centuries of Protest Art in New Exhibition

Jenny — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:12:39 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Showcases Centuries of Protest Art in New Exhibition Jenny Tue, 11/18/2025 - 09:12

�鶹��Ƶ will open a new art exhibition titled �鶹��Ƶ “Jacques Callot and Those Who Came After �鶹��Ƶ ” on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 4:30 p.m. in the first-floor gallery of the John Stewart Memorial Library. The exhibition will run through the spring semester.

The show features 18 etchings that make up Jacques Callot �鶹��Ƶ ’s masterpiece, Les Grandes Misères de la Guerre (1633), or The Miseries and Misfortunes of War. This series is considered the first anti-war statement in Western art.

Curated by Adam DelMarcelle, assistant professor of graphic design, the exhibition was a collaborative effort by �鶹��Ƶ students during the fall 2025 semester. Students in the Western Art History 1000 �鶹��Ƶ –1800 course undertook the research and writing, while the Graphic Design II class developed the exhibition �鶹��Ƶ ’s visual language and way-finding system, enhancing the experience of the powerful work and artifacts. Students in the Typography and the Letterform class built the catalog, and digital photography students contributed striking photographic elements that elevate the artifacts displayed alongside works by Callot, Francisco Goya, Otto Dix, and Ernst Barlach.

�鶹��Ƶ “Interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration lie at the very heart of a liberal arts education, and throughout the months of preparation leading up to the opening, this remarkable group of students embodied the very best of what can happen in the classroom �鶹��Ƶ —when learning is guided and considered by openness, curiosity, and a touch of romance. To say I am proud of them would be an understatement, �鶹��Ƶ ” said DelMarcelle.

Callot �鶹��Ƶ ’s influence spans centuries, inspiring artists such as Goya, Dix, and Barlach to confront the same haunting questions about why humans go to war. This exhibition traces the lineage of protest through printed images, reminding viewers that in the darkest hours, the artist bears witness. It also reflects the collaboration behind its creation, bringing together a multidisciplinary group of students from diverse backgrounds to create an experience that is both rich and nuanced.

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Emerging Artists Shine in �鶹��Ƶ Exhibit at Coyle Free Library

Jenny — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 17:56:56 +0000

Emerging Artists Shine in �鶹��Ƶ Exhibit at Coyle Free Library Jenny Fri, 10/31/2025 - 13:56

An exhibit featuring artwork by �鶹��Ƶ students will open Saturday, Nov. 1, �鶹��Ƶ  2025, �鶹��Ƶ  at the Coyle Free Library in Chambersburg. The �鶹��Ƶ  exhibition is designed to inspire visitors with the creativity expressed by a unique group of students.

Visitors can expect to see more than 25 pieces of original artwork from �鶹��Ƶ  Wilson �鶹��Ƶ  students enrolled in Drawing I, Intro to Design, Digital Photography and Graphic Design courses. The show will highlight a variety of media, reflecting the diverse talents of students.

This is the third time �鶹��Ƶ is collaborating with Coyle Free Library to display student work. The library is not only a cornerstone of the community, but it also shares a special connection with Wilson. Lou Cowles, a reference librarian with the Franklin County Library System, is a proud member of the �鶹��Ƶ Class of 1964. Her support and involvement help to bring the two institutions together for this public showcase.

�鶹��Ƶ “The opportunity helps students develop their artistic voices, and the show allows Wilson the opportunity to share creative, scholarly endeavours with our community, �鶹��Ƶ ” said Philip Lindsey, professor of fine arts at Wilson. �鶹��Ƶ “Community engagement is critical to �鶹��Ƶ  the institutional mission and vision. Wilson �鶹��Ƶ  College �鶹��Ƶ  is a huge part of this community, and everyone �鶹��Ƶ  benefits �鶹��Ƶ  from these opportunities. �鶹��Ƶ ”

Students also enjoy displaying their art publicly. �鶹��Ƶ “It makes them feel like professional artists, �鶹��Ƶ ” �鶹��Ƶ  Lindsey added.

The show runs through December 15, 2025. Admission is free and open to the public. �鶹��Ƶ  

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