Found items, fabric become art at Elizabethtown College

Collage, paintings and textiles exhibit opens Jan. 28

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Susan Darling painting

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (01/08/2011)(readMedia)-- Bring together two Elizabethtown College employees who have a creative passion for collage and textile, and you have "Collage and Paintings" and "Art to Wear," an exhibit of the works of Susan Davitti Darling, manager of Mail Services, and Kathryn Kellie, computing trainer in the Information Technology Services department.

The opening reception for "Collage and Paintings" and "Art to Wear," sponsored by the Fine Arts Division of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, in Zug Memorial Hall in the Hess Gallery. The exhibit runs through March 3, and regular exhibit hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 pm. Saturday and Sunday.

Darling, of Maytown, enjoys every aspect of collage from rummaging and collecting-like a scavenger hunt-to the feel of the papers and the unique textures of the found items. "Collage," Darling said, "is full of play for me. … I let the materials dictate what I do with them. My collages are like poetry or music, where I work toward an emotional response to pure color, shape, pattern form and texture."

Darling earned an associate degree at Roger Williams University; attended Pennsylvania School of Art and Design (now Pennsylvania College of Art and Design); and earned a bachelor's degree in commercial art from Millersville University. She has exhibited in southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia. Darling's work has garnered numerous awards. Most recently she took the 2008 Wish You Were Here, National Collage Society Postcard Exhibition Award. Commissioned works include a the 2007 Women Artists Datebook cover, the 2007 Peace Calendar for the Syracuse (N.Y.) Cultural Workers and the 2006 Sovereign Bank Christmas card.

Inspired by her mother and grandmother, Kellie, of Camp Hill, was, at the age of 10, taught to sew. She claims to have "never met a fabric store I didn't like." Fabrics, Kellie said, inspire her to try all kinds of projects. "Their colors and texture appeal to me, and my fabric stash is impressive." Recently, she has been exploring the use of upholstery fabrics for clothing. The results of that endeavor are exhibited in "Art to Wear." "I am no longer afraid to cut into expensive cloth and try out my own designs," she said. "I like the challenge of making useful things that don't look home-made and are different from the ordinary."

The textile artist attended Westminster College, in New Wilmington, Pa., and graduated with a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University. Kellie was an art teacher in public and private schools.

Contact: Milt Friedly, 717-361-1385, or Amy Reynolds, 717-361-1212.

Elizabethtown College, in southeastern Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Through personal attention, creative inspiration and academic challenge, Elizabethtown College students are encouraged to expand their intellectual curiosity and are given the opportunity to become a bigger part of the world through experiential learning-research, internships and study abroad. Elizabethtown College's overall commitment to Educate for Service is fulfilled as students are taught intellectually, socially, aesthetically and ethically for lives of service and leadership.

Visit www.etown.edu for more information about Elizabethtown College.

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