There’s no need to travel to the world’s finest art galleries to see the works of artists like Warhol and Lichtenstein. As part of the Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art, works by these artists are currently on display on campus at the Shields Center for Visual Arts.
The Maslow Study Gallery, named after both Marilyn and Richard Maslow, who founded and own the collection, opened in the Fall of 2008. Since this time, the collection has been on long-term loan in the Shields Center.
The collection was originally housed at Intermetro Industries in Wilkes Barre, also owned by the Maslows. Since 2008, multiple works have been added to the collection. However, pieces are not added as rapidly as they had been in the beginning of the collection’s establishment.
Bob Schweitzer, the collection’s curator, is responsible for maintaining, overseeing, and interpreting the collection through exhibition. He coordinates with the university’s professors to set up exhibits corresponding with material covered in classes, specifically in art history, studio, and art therapy classes.
According to Schweitzer, the Maslows intended the collection to be a study gallery for students, so material in classes have always been coordinated with what is presented from the collections.
“This collection is accessible to students in ways that others aren’t,” said Schweitzer, who explained that because the gallery is right on campus, students are able to visit more easily than an art gallery in a big city.
The collection’s exhibitions in the Maslow Study Gallery provide a stimulating environment for student and faculty discussions on a wide range of topics. The pieces in the collection span the decades from the 1960s, to the mid-1990s. Major artists in the collection include Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, and Roy Lichtenstein, among many others.
The exhibitions change in order to address the wide range of areas being covered in those courses. Currently, the exhibitions are directed at an ongoing research project in art therapy.
Gabriella Rossi, freshman pre-physician assistant major with a strong interest in art, has visited the gallery multiple times.
“This is a great resource that Marywood has to offer,” Rossi said. “It’s not every day students get to view and interpret famous works of art. Students should definitely consider visiting this gallery and taking advantage of what it has to offer.”
The collection is also acce ssible to the public. Many individuals who have visited the gallery come from the Wilkes-Barre area, where the collection was originally stationed.
“The recognition of the pieces in the gallery is remarkable,” said Schweitzer.
Most visitors visit the Maslow Study Gallery while attending other openings in the Shields Center. According to Schweitzer, the contemporary artwork will continue to be on display in the Shields Center for years to come.The gallery has weekday, evenings, and weekend hours throughout the fall and spring semesters.
Gallery Hours:
Monday, Thursday, Friday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday
9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.