BAM!
Bellefonte Art Museum’s Featured Exhibits and ArtistS
The Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County has created a vibrant community for the arts serving families, artists and patrons, while making a positive social and economic impact on Happy Valley. Five galleries and a gift shop rotate monthly and feature works by local artists, including a unique display window allowing visitors to view art from outside the building. In addition, the Special Exhibitions Gallery brings unique art shows from near and far to enrich our community and highlight art from other places and cultures.
Housed in a historic property in Bellefonte, the Linn House attracts visitors for the art and programs, as well as for the historic quality of the house. “A Journey to Freedom” is a permanent exhibition commemorating the role of our region in the operations of the Underground Railroad.
Museum Hours: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday 12:00-4:30 or by appointment
Marianne Fyda
Marianne Fyda was born in Detroit, MI. She graduated from Wayne State University with a BFA. She met her husband, Gene, in a drawing class. After graduation, they moved to Pennsylvania and started a family and their own art related business, The Peaceable Kingdom, specializing in custom framing, art supplies and more. In 1988, Marianne established her own art studio where she taught classes and continues with her artwork. Over the years, she has participated in numerous art organizations, events, festivals and exhibits, local regional and national. Her work can also be seen at The Peaceable Kingdom, and her website, mariannefyda.com. She works on a wide variety of subjects, but pastels are her favorite medium.
“Pastel combines my love of drawing, with the instant gratification of painting directly on the paper with a stick of pigment I hold in my hand. I feel blessed to be able to do what I love”.- Marianne Fyda
Austin Van Allen
Austin Van Allen is an American Artist, Painter, and Art Teacher based in State College, Pennsylvania. His watercolor and ink style is a relatively new direction for his artwork. During the pandemic of 2020, society’s need for control overwhelmed him; this, along with career challenges affected his mental state, and his art. He felt lost and could no longer focus on hyperrealism - the ultimate expression of control. Instead, he started throwing paint onto paper using his hands, brushes, and cups of water. This raw, unrestrained way of painting allowed him to more fully appreciate the beauty of liquid watercolor paint: colors bleed together, water runs and pools in unique places, blooms happen - he learned how to celebrate all of it. All the thoughts and feelings that he keeps locked in explode out in bursts of brushstrokes, swirls of color, and masses of lines. There is a release of emotion, energy and passion that comes from casting off control, as well as an acceptance and appreciation of the imperfect result. The ink that is drawn over top of the paint is only meant to highlight the beauty of the watercolor and provide a little depth and texture in the artwork.
Even though the ink adds an element of control to his art, it is always reactionary and subservient to the freedom expressed by the watercolor paint. Since creating artwork in this style, Austin’s work has been featured locally, nationally, and internationally including shows in Madrid, Luxembourg City, Monaco City, and Milan. To see more of Austin’s artwork, follow him on Instagram @a.j.v._art, or visit his website at www.ajvart.com.
Guilermo “Willy” Zayas IV
Guillermo Zayas IV (who also goes by Willy) is a local surreal artist and street painter for “Central PA’s Festival of the Arts”;. Willy’s media style ranges from acrylic paintings, fluid pouring techniques, ceramic sculptures, and digital mixed media illustrations. Willy’s artwork may vary in different creative styles, but they all share a common theme. The process of healing from trauma/adversities he has faced in his life and exploring the inner workings of the psyche. His art also expresses celebrating personal growth, along with the inspirational beauty in nature and animals that symbolize renewal, strength, and protection. Creating art is not just a passion for him, but also his main source of communication, connection, and solace on this planet. He hopes that his artwork can help inspire others, especially during difficult times, just as much as it continues to inspire him.
The Bellefonte Art Museum mission emphasizes the importance of local artists, helping them market and sell their creative works. BAM currently boasts an Artist Registry of 170+ local artists. If you’re a local artist and want to get involved, visit bellefontemuseum.org to begin the application process.
2023 Special Exhibition Gallery Schedule
January & February: “Prints & Printmaking: Beginnings of Mass Communications
Printmaking is an artistic process based on the principle of transferring images from a matrix onto another surface, most often paper or fabric. Traditional printmaking techniques include woodcut etching, engraving, lithography, and screen-printing. During the months of January and February 2023, we will learn the process of each technique and see examples of famous works alongside the works of our local registry artists.
March: “Quilts and the Challenge of Design”
Each year the museum works to show one exhibition featuring textiles. We have managed to do this in a variety of ways: from weavings to historic ethnic fabrics to quilt designs, textiles are a long-established art form. In 2023, the museum will exhibit a show of quilts created by local artist and quilt maker, Irmgard Lee. Irmgard’s quilts demonstrate a superior skill in making the textile as well as exciting design sense. Each quilt tells an artistic story created by using color and patterns in a variety of compositions. Vibrant and full of movement, Irmgard’s quilts will capture your attention and build your interest in quilt making.
April & May: “Art & Science”
Traditionally, art and science have been treated as two separate disciplines, but when they are studied together it’s clear to see the impact one has on the other. A great deal of creativity is required to make scientific breakthroughs, and art is just as often an expression of (or a product of) scientific knowledge. During the months of April & May 2023, we dig deeper into each discipline and discover the connection they have to one another.
June, July & August: Imagination Celebration, “Awash in Color”
Once again, BAM will be teaming up with the Makery of State College for our annual themed summer program. “Color” is one of the most important elements of art. Color is all around us and in visual arts, it gives an artwork meaning and beauty – or ugliness. It can also evoke strong emotional reactions. As with previous summers, the theme will be explored by exhibitions and interactive programs throughout our several galleries.
September & October: “Singularity, and the Grand Delusion: Existential Reflections through Contemporary Art by Eric Markievich”
Painting and sculpture exhibit exploring themes of plastic waste and accelerated advancement in artificial intelligence technology among the natural, spiritual, and material world.
November & December: “2023 Holiday Show & Sale”
This exhibition features hundreds of original artworks and crafts from our registry artists. Everything is for sale and provides an opportunity for holiday shoppers to purchase original works of art for their friends and family.
