The Gallery at Penn College is hosting "Five Artists: Explorations and Conversations," a summer exhibition running June 4 through July 24, 2025. The show features works by five Pennsylvania-based artists—Meredith Eachus Armstrong, Elizabeth Z. Bennett, Jean E. Downing, Peggy Blei Hracho, and Cecilia J. Rusnak—who have met monthly for nearly a decade to critique and support each other's creative processes. Their shared commitment to using textiles as an essential element is evident across a range of techniques including hand and machine stitching, dyeing, printing, collage, and assemblage. A free public reception with a gallery talk is scheduled for June 8.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the power of sustained peer critique and collaboration among regional artists, demonstrating how long-term creative dialogue can deepen artistic practice and build trust. By focusing on textile-based work, the show also draws attention to fiber art as a serious and versatile medium, challenging traditional hierarchies in the visual arts. For the local community, it provides accessible, free engagement with contemporary art and supports the cultural mission of Pennsylvania College of Technology.