The Bruce Gallery on the PennWest Edinboro campus is proud to announce the opening of Celebrate the Artist: The 16th Annual Michael V. Gmitter Memorial Scholarship Exhibition. An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, March 19, from 5-7 p.m., with awards announced at 6 p.m. During the reception, more than $4,000 in scholarships will be awarded to student artists.

Celebrate the Artist honors Michael V. Gmitter, an art student studying metals and jewelry at Edinboro who died in 2006. Michael’s parents established an endowment to support an annual Celebrate the Artist memorial exhibition, competition and scholarship in their son’s name.

Since its inception in 2007, Celebrate the Artist has been chaired by Professor Cappy Counard.

“The Gmitter exhibition showcases the high level of creative accomplishment and professionalism of our students while honoring the memory of a cherished former student, Michael V. Gmitter,” Counard said.

Each Fall, PennWest Edinboro’s senior art students submit their applications for the opportunity to install their artwork in a mini solo show in the university’s Bruce Gallery. Students must complete their professional displays during an eight-hour session. This year, the exhibition features work by 14 finalists: Jessie Beatty, Spencer Benjamin, Nick Bonvissuto, Lauren Dietrich, Preston Edmands, Riley Francis, Zachary Gideon, Cameron Howe, Aaron Ly, Delaney Maitland, Jacob Sukhenko, Olivia Sutton, Eden Tighe, and Gwenyth Zeis-Miller.

Once students have completed their installations, juror Zack Pontious will evaluate the installations for artistic ability, originality, creativity, craftsmanship, design and presentation in order to select the scholarship winners. Pontious is a multi-media artist who received his BFA from then Edinboro University and his MFA from the University of Utah. Celebrate the Artist: The 16th Annual Michael V. Gmitter Memorial Scholarship Exhibition will be on view through Sunday, March 30, 2025.

PennWest offers top-notch programs in Graphic Design, Media Arts and Studio Arts.

ABOUT THE BRUCE GALLERY: Located on the Edinboro campus of PennWest University, the Bruce Gallery serves as a resource for students, scholars, and the Northwestern Pennsylvania community. The gallery showcases selections from the permanent collection; from regional and national emerging and established artists; and work by faculty, students, and alumni. The Bruce Gallery exhibitions and programs are generously funded through university facility and staffing support, as well as Edinboro’s Student Government Association (SGA), the university’s Art Department, and by special grants and partnerships.

PLAN YOUR VISIT: The Bruce Gallery is housed on the first floor of the Baron-Forness Library, 200 Tartan Rd., Edinboro, PA. The gallery is free and open to the public during library operating hours.