Major Art Installation Revealed at Penn State University, The Behrend College

Erie, PA, September 21, 2016 --(PR.com)-- When Penn State Erie, The Behrend College opened the doors to its new Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Center (AMIC), it also unveiled one of the most ambitious art installations in the region.

Higherglyphics, the visual public relations firm founded by artist Todd Scalise, created six murals, spanning more than 350 square feet, and two metal sculptures (one indoor, one outdoor) for the building. The commission was the firm’s largest to date.

AMIC will foster collaborations between industry partners and Behrend students, and in that spirit, Scalise involved Behrend students in nearly every step of the creative process. Digital Media, Arts, and Technology students created 3D models of the sculptures, and students from the college’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders performed tolerance testing. Students from the Arts Administration program assisted with project coordination and marketing throughout the 18-month process.

In addition to these student collaborations, Scalise also worked with a regional consortium of artists, designers, fabricators, and architects. Bostwick Design Partnership’s original concept of the building was used as inspiration while creating the project. Artist James Conley, worked with Scalise on mural designs, site photography, and sourcing, while designer Kayla Nesselhauf provided graphic support. Author Cory Vaillancourt created a narrative based on the topics of materials and processes -- the two major themes in the works.

“The artwork is a meditation on two very relevant topics in the field of engineering – materials and processes,” Scalise said. “A story is told through the murals, which illustrate important concepts mentioned in accompanying wall-mounted text panels. The sculptures are united in concept with the murals, but tell the story in a different way.”

“Students and businesses will be surrounded by art that highlights the collaborative spirit of the building,” said Scalise, “which will inspires creative problem solving in this academic environment.” Scalise is an award-winning artist known for his large-scale works. Higherglyphics has also completed large-scale projects for the Erie Art Museum, Mercyhurst Preparatory School, and the Erie Downtown YMCA.