Penn State Wilkes-Barre's Friedman Art Gallery will open a new exhibit titled "Artistic Gems from the Past" on May 1, featuring artwork by current and former students, including pieces created over 25 years ago. The exhibit includes works from two courses taught by Jonathan Pineno—Art History 112 and Integrative Arts 001—where students created art using recycled materials and techniques inspired by Bob Ross. Unattributed works from the 1990s are also on display, and the gallery is asking the public to help identify the original student artists.
The exhibit matters because it highlights the enduring creative legacy of a regional campus art program, connecting past and present students while engaging the local community in art appreciation and historical identification. It underscores the role of small university galleries in preserving student art and fostering cultural dialogue, and it invites public participation in solving a mystery of authorship, making art history a collaborative, living process.