Diana Hoffman '17 Curates Exhibit at LVC's Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery

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Diana Hoffman '17 has curated the "Con Spirito: Emotions Through the Printed Image" exhibit.

ANNVILLE, PA (06/23/2016)(readMedia)-- Art has played a key role in Diana Hoffman's life. So much in fact, the rising senior art & art history student will curate the "Con Spirito: Emotions Through the Printed Image" exhibit, which will be on display in the Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery at Lebanon Valley College from July 1 through August 7. The "Con Spirito" collection was a gift from Dr. Stefan P. Kruszewski, M.D.

The "Con Spirito" exhibit is the culmination of many high-impact opportunities that Hoffman '17 experienced as an art major at The Valley. Her love of art, which she now calls a passion, developed at a young age after her parents started taking her to museums. "I was exposed to art at such a young age and have continued to be captivated by continuing to visit museums and look at the works," said Hoffman.

Hoffman began as a Gallery intern in January and worked on the "Con Spirito" exhibit throughout the semester. "Con Spirito" was donated to the Gallery early in Hoffman's internship.

"The internship with the Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery played a big part in the opportunity to curate the upcoming exhibition, "Con Spirito: Emotions through the Printed Image,"' said Hoffman. "Without it, I would not have been able to have the opportunity to curate the show."

Hoffman chose the theme for the exhibit based on an acquisition of an artist proof, by Irving Amen, as the catalyst after having been told that the art gallery had never had an exhibition on prints. The end result was selections that resonated feelings of joy and religious spirituality, as well as humor and fun.

While curating the "Con Spirito" exhibit, Hoffman researched, wrote labels, presented at Inquiry 2016, and refined her writing. The internship encouraged Hoffman to want to work more in the area of art and galleries once she enters the work force.

"Diana has a strong background in the Art & Art History Department and experience working as an attendant at the Gallery," said Dr. Barbara McNulty, director of the Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery. "In addition, Diana is a hard worker, diligent, and very enthusiastic. She has a positive outlook toward all that she does."

Hoffman has begun painting her own work. "I enjoy creating my own pieces of artwork," said Hoffman. "It gives me a sense of freedom."

She found her "sense of freedom" during her first year at LVC. "I was stressing out and suddenly I had moment in which I knew that my future needed to involve art in some way." The realization made Hoffman finally choose her path in life, with a major in art & art history.

"Con Spirito: Emotion Through the Printed Image" will run from July 1–August 7. "I hope that the audience, and the community, viewing the works that I have curated for my exhibition, will come away from my show with a sense of enjoyment," said Hoffman. "At the same time, I also hope that they will come away from the exhibit with newly gained knowledge about the background of the works."

About Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley College is a private, coeducational college founded in 1866 and dedicated to the liberal arts. The College offers 40 undergraduate majors plus self-designed majors and a range of minors, concentrations, and pre-professional options, as well as graduate degree programs in athletic training, business administration, music education, physical therapy, science education, and speech-language pathology. NOTE: I deleted "and" before "science education" and added "SPL" after alphabetically.

The College has 1,608 full-time undergraduate students and 108 full-time faculty. Students can choose from more than 90 clubs and organizations, and 12 study abroad programs. LVC awards generous academic scholarships to those whose high school records demonstrate a commitment to challenge and achievement.