Brush With Normalcy: West Liberty University Welcomes Guests Back to Nutting Art Gallery

Two semesters went by with graduating students unable to display the fruits of their labor in West Liberty University's art gallery, but that won't be the case going forward.

Earlier this month, the Nutting Gallery reopened its doors to display the art of Rabecca Signoriello, a Pennsylvania native whose "This Is Work" series will be on display through April 14. This marks the first time the gallery was open to guests since last spring.

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the closure of the gallery, which left two semesters worth of students unable to invite guests to see their work displayed in the gallery. WLU Professor of Art and gallery director Brian Fencl said the reopening marks a return to one of a student artist's most esteemed moments: their senior exhibition.

"Last spring, seniors did not get to experience the actual gallery event, couldn't have their families up to see what they've been working on for the last four years. The students in the fall didn't get to do that either. Their work was in the gallery, but we didn't get a chance to have an opening. These kids in April will be able to have guests on campus, to have snacks and refreshments available.

"It's a big moment for graduating seniors to be able to do this in a fairly normal way, and we're really excited to be able to give them that."

The reception for the opening of the gallery last week saw around 47 people come through the gallery in an hour and a half, which Fencl said was a normal crowd size for an event, though those in attendance came through across the 90-minute period, rather than at all at once, as is usual.

The gallery was reopened through the guidance of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department. Campus dining services provided refreshments during the reception.

"They were very helpful and gave us confidence that we could move forward with the event in a responsible way," Fencl stated.

Over the last year, students have instead displayed their work online, which Fencl did not feel was as gratifying.

"It's not the same. Seeing their work on a computer is just not as satisfying as seeing it big and on a wall, seeing people interacting with it. That's what we're really looking forward to."

"This Is Work," the series currently on display, was created by Signoriello, born and raised in northwest Pennsylvania. Signoriello attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 2004. Upon graduation she started Signoriello Studios, specializing in murals. After several years of painting, she was accepted to The New York Academy of Art where she continued her education.

Her works are in private collections in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Germany and Monte Carlo, Monaco. The "Grit" series is also included in the exhibit. It was on display for most of 2019 at the Pittsburgh International Airport.

Fencl found it mildly interesting that art would be among the first signs of a full return to a normal year moving forward.

"Oh man, it feels so good," Fencl said. "When you think 'arts' and 'normalcy,' they don't normally go hand in hand, but that we get to use art to lead us back to normalcy is kind of an exciting thing."