University laureate to visit college

Penn State laureate Christopher Staley

Penn State laureate 2012-13, Christopher Staley, Distinguished Professor of Art, will present “Art and Life: Where They Intersect,” an exploration of creativity and the intersection between art and life, at Penn State Harrisburg on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 2:00 p.m. in the Kunkle Auditorium, C-213 Olmsted Building. The presentation, free and open to the public, draws on Staley’s 30 years of experience as an educator and ceramic artist.

As the fifth person to receive the Penn State laureate title, founded in 2008, Staley appears at University events and Penn State campuses with the goal to “bring an enhanced level of social, cultural, artistic, and human perspective and awareness to a broad array of audiences.”

“It is these observations [art’s implications on aspects of life], along with provocative questions, that I wish to share with the extended Penn State community and beyond,” Staley said. “Art has the ability to build a sense of community because it can rekindle our collective sense of childhood and wonder.”

Staley’s ceramic works can be found in locations around the world, including the Smithsonian National Museum of American Art, Washington, D.C.; the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England; and the International Museum of Ceramic Art, Fuping, China. Additionally, he has held personal exhibitions across the United States and served as artist-in-residence at multiple institutions.