Arts and Entertainment

'Tiny Acts Topple Empires' opens at the Woskob Family Gallery

CLINTON SLEEPER, Still from "Fix Project," Ongoing. Video, 00:30:00 Credit: Clinton SleeperAll Rights Reserved.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — "Tiny Acts Topple Empires," a group exhibition curated by Heather Darcy Bhandari, is on display through June 2 in the Woskob Family Gallery.

The exhibition takes its title from a quote in a 2004 essay by Danusha Goska, in which she writes, “when we study the biographies of our heroes, we learn that they spent years in preparation, doing tiny, decent things before one historical moment propelled them to center stage and used them to tilt empires.” From a national open call, Bhandari selected works by 35 contemporary artists that engage in some form of rebellion and challenge the status quo. 

Although the artworks in "Tiny Acts Topple Empires" widely vary in scale, medium and style, the artists all work in at least one of three ways: revealing subjects frequently hidden from view, recontextualizing different subject matter in new ways, and operating through the direct actions of the artist or viewer.

The included artists are Micaela Amateau Amato, Laura Bustamante, Mandy Cano Villalobos, Jonathan Ehrenberg, John D. Freyer, Joy Garnett, David Grainger, Karolyn Hatton, Krista Hoefle, Vincent Hron, Sarah E. Jenkins, Noel Kassewitz, Dave Kube, Jessica Lauren Lipton, Liz Luna, Meredith Lynn, Taryn McMahon, Christopher McNulty, Margaret Murphy, Joe Netta, Landon L. Newton, Michael Pribich, Leslie Robinson, K. Sarrantonio, Jody Servon, Clinton Sleeper, Kate Snow, Ann Stoddard, Krista Svalbonas, Steve Totin, MJ Tyson, Kirsten Valentine, Hilary Wang, Coral Woodbury, and JooYeon Judy Yang. 

In addition to the works on view, the gallery will offer a number of events and engagement opportunities in conjunction with the exhibition:

— An opening reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, at the gallery.  

— Artist John D. Freyer, in partnership with the Penn State Collegiate Recovery Community and Rothrock Coffee, will develop a custom-roasted coffee variety called “Recovery Roast” at 4 p.m. March 28 at the Woskob Family Gallery. The Penn State edition of “Recovery Roast” will be available during the run of the exhibition at a custom coffee station installed in the gallery. The event offers an opportunity to engage persons in recovery and their allies in conversation over a cup of free coffee, emphasizing creative expression as a means of assisting in the recovery process and reducing the social stigma and isolation associated with individuals struggling with substance use disorders.

— Freyer also will host a pop-up event with his Free Hot Coffee Bike from 10-11:30 a.m. March 29 outside the Palmer Museum of Art.

— Additionally, the gallery will host all-ages art-making workshops during State College’s monthly First Fridays from 5-8 p.m.

For more information on these events, visit the gallery online at woskobfamilygallery.psu.edu. All events are free and open to the public. 

The Woskob Family Gallery is a contemporary art space in downtown State College that brings a cohesive and carefully curated program of exhibitions and events to central Pennsylvania. Run by Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture, the gallery serves as a laboratory for exploring how the arts can catalyze creative place-making. The Woskob Family Gallery is located at 146 South Allen Street in State College. 

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Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, contact Program Manager Haley Finnegan at hbs131@psu.edu or visit woskobfamilygallery.psu.edu

Last Updated March 27, 2018

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