2022 New Acquisitions

In 1987, the Plemmons Student Union began purchasing works of art created by Appalachian students and faculty. This became our largest permanent art collection, the Appalachian Artists Collection. Each year since 1987 when the collection was created, it has been enhanced by purchasing additional works at the annual Art + Design Expo and the B.F.A. Senior Show.

A committee comprised of faculty from the Art Department, staff from a variety of departments in the Student Union, and students working as the Looking Glass Gallery Art Curator, Preparator, and Art Collections Manager have once again selected original works of art to be purchased and accessioned into the existing collection.

Being featured in the Appalachian Artists Collection will give prominence to these works of art which are to be displayed in lounges, lobbies, hallways, and meeting rooms throughout our Student Union. For the first year, new acquisitions are displayed on large wall adjacent to the Grandfather Ballroom, located on the 1st floor of the Student Union.

Sincere thanks goes to the Plemmons Student Union Art Committee for their work in serving as jurors and advisors to the Looking Glass Gallery and the permanent collections in the Union. These members voted to purchase their favorite pieces in this year’s Art + Design Expo. These works, along with the artists, will now and forever be a part of the dynamic collection that honors the creative talents of so many current and former Appalachian students.

Members on the Art Committe include:

Students: Madison Tenney (PSU Looking Glass Gallery Curator), Reagan Bullock (PSU Art Preparator), and Samantha Oleschuk (PSU Art Collections Manager)

Art Department Faculty: Scott Ludwig and Jody Servon

As well as Brad Vest, Director - Plemmons Student Union; Ginger Bryant, PSU Art Manager; Lamont Sellers, Director - Intercultural Student Affairs, and Chrissie Faupel, Education Abroad Director - Office of International Education.

An extra expression of gratitude must be extended to Lamont Sellers and the Department of Intercultural Student Affairs for graciously donating funds to help purchase art this year. Additional gratitude is also extended to Cheap Joe's Art Stuff in Boone, NC, for their generous donation of eight $50 Cheap Joe's Merchandise Cards which were awarded to this year's PSU Honorable Mentions at the Art+Design Expo.

2022 Plemmons Student Union Art Purchase Awards

These artworks are now a part of the PSU Permanent Art Collections. You can see these beautiful pieces on the new acquisitions wall across from the Grandfather Ballroom, located on the first floor of the Student Union. In addition to these new works, you can also see additional artworks that were purchased during the Spring Art+Design Expo of 2020.

In order of images above:

Dejah Chapple, Lonely Days of Summer, acrylic on canvas, ©Dej the Muse

Dejah Chapple, Somewhere In Time, acrylic on canvas, ©Dej the Muse

Julie Ferguson, Density, acrylic on canvas, ©Julie Ferguson

Demosthenes Paulk, Thank You!, digital print, ©Demothenes Paulk

Juliana Maurer, Queer As In, digital designs printed on satin paper, ©Juliana Maurer

Choosing which works of art to include in the Appalachian Artists Collection is challenging, especially when all of the art is of such fantastic merit. Although not chosen for the collection, we want to recognize additional outstanding works of art. Therefore, in addition to these purchase awards, the Plemmons Student Union Art Committee has also agreed to present eight Honorable Mentions. These students received an award letter, certificate, and a $50 merchandise card donated from Cheap Joe's Art Stuff in Boone.

Rae Feutz, Growing Pains

Hartley, Self Deflection

Zachary Horton, Pandemic

Kara Dally, The Protectors

Christian Roberts, Blue Jean

Banner Knowles, Love Bug Lounge

Mandy Bass, Ascension Flux

David Wilkins, Louver Lamp