A piece from Scott Pennington's installation, Integrated Carnival Energy Systems, at Penn State Abington.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — "Integrated Carnival Energy Systems," a solo exhibit by Scott Pennington, opens in the Penn State Abington Gallery on Aug. 21.
The artist will discuss his work from 12:20 to 1:10 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 18. The exhibit runs through Sept. 29.
Pennington describes his work and his approach in his artist statement:
"My recent work is inspired by the concepts of labor and the unending necessity of man to ‘work.’ Utilizing large-scale installation and performance, I explore cultural and social concepts that place the human in society as a tool or commodity to be exploited.
"Through the use of skilled craftsmanship and live, interactive performance, I continually seek ways for the general public to appreciate my work and enjoy themselves, regardless of their knowledge or previous experience of art."
— Scott Pennington, artist
"Often, tasks we perform as part of our jobs are monotonous and ambiguous when viewed from the outside. For some, work is a pleasant experience, but for many it consists of tasks in which they must continually force themselves to engage.
"I deal with the idea of the worker as one who is not concerned with the greater world but is focused only on the task at hand. In my performances, the characters often have nameless and faceless parts to play.
"Woodworking is my profession. I design and build furniture and cabinetry, and thrive on the problem solving inherent in my chosen career. My art is often a departure from this task-based way of working, while continuing to utilize my skills as a craftsperson. Through the use of skilled craftsmanship and live, interactive performance, I continually seek ways for the general public to appreciate my work and enjoy themselves, regardless of their knowledge or previous experience of art."
The Penn State Abington Art Gallery hours are:
- Monday and Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Weekend hours by appointment.
Penn State Abington, formerly the Ogontz campus, offers baccalaureate degrees in 18 majors at its suburban location just north of Philadelphia. Nearly half of our 4,000 students complete all four years at Abington, with opportunities in undergraduate research, the Schreyer honors program, NCAA Division III athletics, and more. Students can start the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors at Abington and complete their degrees at University Park or another campus. Lions Gate, our first residence hall, opened in August 2017.
