ART IN EVERY CORNER
GANNON UNIVERSITY’S CREATIVE LANDSCAPE
ART IN EVERY CORNER
Gannon University has long prioritized the preservation and sharing of artistic visions through its extensive art collection. In the summer of 2024, Gannon student workers and staff set to make this art book to document the many pieces found across the downtown Erie campus. “Art in Every Corner” aims to showcase the beautiful pieces that Gannon has acquired through the years. This catalogue gives readers a look into the creativity and ingenuity of Erie’s local artists.
To learn more about the buildings and select art pieces shown in this book go to gannon.edu/artbook or scan the qr code.
Select peices will be marked with * if more information is available online
A.J. PALUMBO ACADEMIC CENTER
Before Gannon purchased the property, Palumbo Academic Center was a shopping center. The building is named after A.J. Palumbo. Palumbo was a businessman and philanthropist and a familiar name to colleges around Northwestern Pa. In 1996 AJ Palumbo donated funding to Gannon for the renovation of the property. Now, it has been converted into the main academic building on Gannon’s campus.
Unknown Artist and Title
“Untitled” by Jay Durrah
“Cosmic Fish Inspired by Frederick Franke” by Bill Doan*
Honor’s Mural by Katie Dickey
Romans 12:2 Mural
Erie Press Club Mural by Joseph Plavcan*
English Mural by Roman Denisyuk*
“Anyone of Us” by Antontio Howard*
“Untitled” by Ray Bayusick
“Untitled” by Duane Cregger
“The Pantocrator” by Rev. Peter Wm. Gray*
“Direction Finder” by MC Gensheimer*
Unknown Author and Title
Unknown Author and Title
“Durban Market 2” by Herm Weber*
“Istanbul Bus” by Herm Weber
“Untitled” by Sydney Carter
CENTER FOR ADVANCED ENGINEERING
The Center for Advanced Engineering, or CAE, is home to Gannon’s engineering programs. The building houses classrooms, offices and laboratory space for engineering students and faculty to collaborate and create. The building itself, which opened in 2015, pays homage to engineers with its architecture and design. The building has features like a spiral staircase and exposed support beams that highlight the buildings architecturally engineered aspects.
Commissioned Cross
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
CENTER FOR BUSINESS INGENUITY
The Center for Business Ingenuity, or CBI, is a business and entrepreneurship laboratory. The building combines the Dahlkemper School of Business with outreach projects including the Erie Technology Incubator, Small Business Development Center and the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network. The space is a hub for various hands-on learning experiences in the business world.
Commissioned Cross
by Joseph Plavcan
“Young Man Recline” by an Unknown Artist
“State Street” by Jamie Borowics
CENTER FOR COMMUNICATION AND THE ARTS
Gannon’s School for Communication and the Arts is found in its Center for Communication and the Arts, or CCA. The building houses learning spaces, offices and real-world learning scenarios for students in the communications fields. It is also home to Gannon’s award-winning, student run radio station, 90.5 WERG, as well as an art gallery, an archaeology museum and a TV film studio.
“Untitled” by Roy Ahlgren*
“Creative Muse” by Ken Kopin
Unknown Artist and Title
“Baptism Under a Crescent Moon” by Steward Hoyes
“Ain’t I Worth It” by Antonio Howard
“Shapes” by Peter Gray
“Untitled“ by Ben Gibson
“White Weaving” by Andrea Jacoby
“Dusk and Dawn (in Memory of Bruce Morton)” by Roy Ahlgren
“Blue Optic” by Roy Ahlgren
“Red Sculpture” by Ken Wyten
“Pollock Wannabe“ by Lori Steadman, Lee Steadman, MC Gensheimer, and Gannon Students
Antique North Wind Chest (c.1840-50) Unknown Artist
Oil
“Sun Over Lake” by Marie Spaedar Haas*
“Towers” by Unknown Artist
Paintung of Martin Luther King Jr., Artist unknown
Unknown Artist and Title
“Violins” by Garland
Unknown Artist and Title
“Shapes” by Peter Gray
“Departure Painting” by Tom Ferraro*
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
“Mexico” by Tom Ferraro
“Green Winds” by Peter Gray
“Gretare Landscapes” by Unknown Artist
“Trees” by Duqaw
“Musician” by Harrison Otalor
COURT HOUSE COMMONS
Architectural Details
Railing in Courthouse Commons
Railing in Courthouse Commons
Pillar in Courthouse Commons
Stained glass window
Ceiling detail in Courthouse Commons
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
GITNIK MANSE
Gitnik Manse, a three-story, eighteen-room house that was built in 1885 by Franklin F. Marshall and restored to its original beauty by Paul Gitnik in 2000, serves as the front door for prospective Gannon students. Its Queen Anne architectural style is known for features including complex roofing, bay windows, mixed masonry and porches. The house is now home to Gannon’s Undergraduate Admissions and New Student Welcome Center.
Ceiling details
Architectural Details
Chandelier
Railing carving
“Presque Isle” by Evan Everhart
“Large Still Life” by Heather Kanazawa
Bust of Bishop John Mark Gannon
“Dogwood Cross” by Evan Everhart
INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CYBER KNOWLEDGE
The Institute for Health and Cyber Knowledge, or I-HACK, is a 100,000 square foot facility which formally opened in 2021. The building includes a variety of labs, classrooms and a state-of-the-art maker space. The building was bought by Gannon in 2016 and previously acted as a temporary library. Originally though, the building was built as a Verizon call center in 1973.
“Circut” by Evan Everheart
“Hypercube 1-8” by Durim Loshaj
“Erie” by Jamie Borowics
“Check It Out” by Ray Maholtz
“What Lies Beneath” by Joyce Perowicz
“Branches of The Sun” by Annoel Kriderr
“Mountain Lake” by Neil Donovan
“Revived
Metal Series of Commissinoed Crosses”
by Evan Everheart
“Fractal Tracts” by Frank Fecko
“Grasses” by Evan Everheart
“Landscape with Clouds” by Heather Kawanzawa
“Design, Integrate, Protect” by MC Gensheimer and Andy Lapiska
“Japanese Lanterns” by Roy Bayusick
“Blue Firewall” by Lee Steadman*
Triangulum by Tom Ferraro and Ed Grout
The Triangulum is a piece designed by Tom Ferraro and Ed Grout. The piece was created for the opening of I-HACK. The pair met with Gannon students and discussed the pieces design. Ferraro said “The pyramid shape has been used throughout art history and evokes a sense of wonder symbolizing power, progression, purpose and direction”.
The Triangulum’s eastern face showcases binary code in a swirl pattern that is meant to represent the technology in the building and themes of identity and security, as the pattern resembles a fingerprint. When decoded, the Gannon mission statement is revealed.
The Western face is made of granite and angled to catch the reflection of the I-HACK building and reflect sunlight back onto it. The idea stemmed from a reversal of sky scrapers made completely out of windows that catch reflections.
The northern face of the Triangulum is made of granite panels with embedded glass orbs. Each orb represents a property within Gannon’s footprint in 2022, when the sculpture was completed. If you take a map of Gannon’s campus and reflect is horizontally and vertically, the orbs align with the properties. Two orbs are in the upper panel and represent the Ruskin, Florida campus. The granite in this section swirls to represent water. In the evening the orbs glow and represent the beacons of light they are for Gannon students.
The eastern face and the steel frame were manufactured by Gannon alumnus Jim Rutkowski, Jr. at Industrial Sales and Manufacturing
LANDSCAPES
Gannon Arch
“Resurrection” by Frederick Franck
Gannon Mural by Ehren Knapp and Gannon Students*
Golden Knight Statue by Jon Hair
MARY, SEAT OF WISDOM CHAPEL
In 1860, the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church built a brick edifice with a towering steeple. Some twenty years later, the building was partially destroyed by a fire. The present church was built in 1950. Gannon purchased the property in 1981, and the chapel was dedicated in 1989. In 2019, the chapel closed for a renovation campaign. The chapel reopened with new windows and pews. The former materials were reworked into a four-panel stained-glass window found in Kraus Hall and into an interfaith chapel at a state correctional facility.
“Stations of the Cross”, Artist Unknown
“Icon of Saint Mary”, “Icon of Saint Joseph”, Artist Unknown Artist Unknown
Unknown
Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel Donor Wall or “Gratitude” by Donna Styborski Reese
The Tabernacle
Artist and Title
Statue
Stained Glass
Crusafix, Artist Unknown
Saint Joseph the Worker statue, Artist Unknown, carved in northern Italy
Mary, Seat of Wisdom Statue, Artist Unknown carved in northern Italy
Hand carved ambo
Hand carved piece
Hand carved altar
Stained Glass Windows designed by John Vahanian*
“Mary, Mother of the Church”
“Christ the True Vine”
“Risen Christ” “Eucharist”
Stained Glass Windows designed by John
Vahanian.
“The Gift of the Holy Spirit”
“Gannon University Seal”
“Baptism”
“The Tree of Life”
NASH LIBRARY AND STUDENT LEARNING COMMONS
Nash Library first opened in the 1970s, and if you entered the building anytime between then and 2017, you could likely tell from the carpet alone. Originally a vibrant orange, the carpet, along with other items were removed when the library was remodeled. The library re-opened in 2018 with new study rooms, a coffee shop, a green roof, computer labs and tutoring areas.
Phil Cochran Bust,
Artist Unknown
Crusifix, a gift from Daeman College given to president Keith Taylor
“Child wtih Thorn”
Artist Unknown
Bust of Archbishop
John Mark Gannon,
Artist Unknown
“Our Lady of Wisdom” a gift from Daeman College given to president Keith Taylor
“Saint Paul of Assisi” a gift from Daeman College to president Keith Taylor
“City Scape” by Roy Ahlgren
“Numbers” Arrtist Unknown
“I
Only Have Flies for You” by Susan Black redux by MC Gensheimer and Lori Steadman*
“Doubting
Thomas” by Peter Gray
“Presentation Piece” by Carl Sundberg, a gift from Edward Lamb
“Lost Coastlines” by Tom Ferraro
“Stacks” by Tom Jackson
“Quiet Inlet” by Tom Parker
“Diverging Roads” by Lee Steadman
“Early January” by Vitus Kaiser
“Fences” by Joseph Plavcan
“Last Supper” by Peter Gray
“NOH Dance” by Dr. William J. Doan
“Kabuki Dance” by Dr. William J. Doan
“Peninsula Wetlands #1” by Herman Weber
“Peninsula Wetlands #2” by Herman Weber
“Vincent Van Gogh Self Portrait with Straw Hat” by Lee Steadman
“Mary” by Robert Morosky
“Klimt Golden Knight” by Lee Steadman
“Through the Woods” by Eleanor Zimmer
“My Child” by Suzi Druley
“Through the Looking Glass” by Berwyn Moore
“Free Flight” by Tom Hubert
“Visual Dance” by Tom Hubert
Fairly Odd Parents Animation Cell Episode 003 “Where’s the Wand?”
The Loud House Episode 75 “L is for Love” Teleplay by Alumni Kevin Sullivan ‘87
The Loud House Episode 79 “Health Kicked” Written by Alumni Kevin Sullivan ‘87
“Open Air Celebration” by Anne C. Eliot
“Warner Bros Animation Cell -- Batman”, a Gift from A.J. Miceli
“Rock Concert Poster” by Bill Graham and Lee Conklin
“Untitled Movement Study” by Rev. Howard Niebling
“Jumbo” by Rev. Howard Niebling
“Carmen” by Rev. Howard Niebling
“Marina Mooring” by Vitus Kaiser
“In Fetzer’s Field” by Marie Spaedar-Haas
“Maine Marina” by Herm Weber
“Contemporary Perry” by Unknown Artist
“The Pointeres” by Bob Mackie
OLD MAIN
The Strong Mansion, also known as Old Main, was built in 1881 by architect Edward B. Green. The building was constructed for the family of William L. Scott, a former mayor of Erie, on the edge of what was known as “millionaires’ row” The first-floor walls is constructed of blue sandstone, while the rest of the outer walls are Pompeiian brick from New Jersey. The roofing and other features were made of terra cotta, also from New Jersey. The house eventually passed to Annie Wainwright and Charles Hamot Strong. The east side of the house was occupied by Annie, while the west was occupied by Charles. The fourth floor, which now houses University Advancement, was once the servant’s quarters.
Over the years, guests to the house included President Grover Cleveland and President William Howard Taft. President Cleveland was friends with William Scott and knew him from his time as the mayor of Buffalo. Cleveland also acted as an honorary pallbearer in Scott’s funeral. Meanwhile, Taft was a friend of Strong’s from Yale. It is believed that if Taft ever did get stuck in a bathtub. It may have been in this house. The house stayed in the Strong family until 1941 when it was sold to Bishop John Mark Gannon, who then gave the property to Gannon College. The building is believed to be worth 7 million dollars today.
Presdential Portraits
Leonie Shanley, SSJ
Mother Helena Dillon, SSJ
Lawrence Anton, SSJ
Reverend Mother Aurelia O’Hearn, SSJ
Dr. Joseph Scottino Monsignor Wilfrid Nash
Dr. Daniel M. Henry
Monsignor Robino
Monsignor Joseph “Doc” Wherle
Dr. Keith Taylor by Brad Lethby
Dr. Antoine Gariballdi
Close up of pillar in Old Main
Fireplace in Old Main
Architectural Details
Close up of stairs in Old Main
Closeup of furniture in Old Main
Historic lamposts in Old Main
President’s Office in Old Main
Office ceiling in Old Main
Close up of carving in Old Main
“Incidence in the Life of Saint Andrew” by Guissepe Bazzani
“The Young Virgin” by Giovanni Martinelli
“Young Saint John” by Adrian Van Der Veld
“The Crusifixtion of Saint Andrew” by Giussepe Bazani
“Annunciation” by Antoine Cuypel
“Apostasy of Salomon” by Pierre Hubert Sublyras
Found Treaures
These paintings once adorned the walls of Old Main and the former library — what is now Gannon’s Yell Ballroom — in the 1940s to the 60s. In the 1960s they were put into storage for the renovation of the buildings. These treasures were undisturbed until Andy Eagle, the maintenance crew leader at Gannon, rediscovered them in 2016.
The pieces were purchased by Archbishop John Mark Gannon in 1948, according to a receipt. They were bought for a total of $10,000. In 1989, an appraisal valued them at $53,050; their value today has not been calculated. The exact origins of the paintings remain unknown, but they now belong to Gannon as a visual representation and celebration of our catholic faith, identity, and traditions.
The paintings were sent to students in the Patricia H. and Richard E. Gorman Art Conservation Program at Buffalo State College. The students, under the supervision of Fiona Beckett, assistant professor of Painting Conservation at the college, are working to restore the art using an in-depth analysis of the piece and its structural components. It can take up to two years to restore one painting.
Gannon Schools Chair made by Jimmy Carter
Ceiling in Old Main
Bust of Archbishop John Mark Gannon
Unknown Artist and Title
Bust of “Diana” by Jean Alexandre Joseph
Chest, unknown creator
Bust on loan from Hagen History Center
Falguiere on loan from Hagen History Center
“SAPPHO”, artist unknown, on loan from Hagen History Center
Unknown Artist and Title
Photo of Archbishop John Mark Gannon
Drawing of Old Main
Ceiling Mural in Old Main, Unknown Artist
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Crusifix, Artist Unknown
Gannon University Chapel, Presented to Rev. Richard J. Sullivan
Sculpture
Portrait of Anna Strong
ROBERT H. MOROSKY ACADEMIC CENTER
Robert H. Morosky graduated from Gannon in 1963. His wife, Dianne, was one of the first women to attend Gannon. Through his philanthropic work the Robert H. and Dianne Morosky Endowed Scholarship Fund, which donated 1 million dollars to Gannon in 2006. Robert Morosky is the largest ever donor to Gannon University and in 2008 both the Robert H Morosky Academic Center and the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences were dedicated. The building sits on the corner of Ninth and Sassafras streets and was formerly the Central Presbyterian Church. Today, the building is home to the Morosky College of Health Sciences including Patient Simulation Labs.
“THE GREAT” by Robert Morosky
“Mother Theresa” by Robert Morosky
“Untitled” by Robert Morosky
“Masai Girl” by D. Morosky
“Untitled” by Robert Morosky
Unknown Artist and Title
“Our Lady of Lourdes” a gift from the Dioscese of Erie Russ Rydzewski
SCHUSTER THEATER AND SCOTTINO HALL
The Schuster Theater was purchased by Gannon in 1983. Prior to Gannon’s ownership of the building, it was the home of the First Church of Christ Scientist. Today, the theater hosts Gannon’s theater programs, including year-round shows.
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
STUDENT HOUSING
Gannon owns several properties used for student housing. With traditional dorm halls, alongside smaller properties in the Erie community, the art and architecture styles found in these buildings are vast. Of Gannon’s small properties, locations that stand out for their historic significance include 301 W. Fifth St., which was built in 1888, 210 W. Eighth St., which was built in 1901.
“Sword of Dogwood” by Evan Everhart
Photo by Nadya MaKay
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
“Spiralgraph” by Evan Everhart
“Metalscapes”
by Evan Everhart
Photo by Skylar Parsons
Photo by Matthew Kroll
Photo by Anna Jefferys
Photo by Maksim Mayster
“Sea Glass Tree” by Evan Everhart
Photo by Asma Aldhafeeri
Photo by Faruk Alihdzic
Photo by Asma Aldhafeeri
Photo by Skylar Parsons
“Of the Lake” by Evan Everhart
“Presque Isle” by Evan Everhart
Photo by Joann George
Photo by Maksim Mayster
Photo by Lily Bargabus
Photo by Nadya Makay
“Ice” by Maxim Mayster
“Conneaut Lake” by Evaan Everhart
“Great Lakes“ by Evan Everhart
Photo by Nadya Makay
Photo by Nadya Makay
Photo by Maxim Mayster
Photo by Bibek Kumar
Photo by Georgios Pertidis
Photo by Matthew Kroll
Photo by Hannah Cedzo
Photo by Kiley William
WALDRON CAMPUS CENTER
Waldron Campus Center is an addition made to the original Gannon building, Old Main. The area is now the hub of student life on campus providing places to study, relax, and eat. The building is now home to the Highmark Event Center, formerly the Hammermill, and Yehl Alumni Ballroom, which formerly held the Gannon library.
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
“Jimmie Hendrix” by Denny Dent
Gannon Golden Knights, Artist Unknown
“Mobile” by David Seitzinger*
“The
Way of Wisdom” in Honor of Jim Schaaf funded by the Dennis McConnell, class of 1970
Gift to Monsignor Rubino in grateful appreciation for his priestly and presidential service by John Vahanian
Yehl Alumni Ballroom Stained Glass Windows
WEST HALL CHAPEL
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
ZURN SCIENCE CENTER
Dedicated in 1970, the Zurn Science Center is home to academic programs in the sciences. The building was made possible through a gift from the Zurn Foundation and is dedicated to enriching life through engineering and the sciences. Zurn Industries Incorporated is an environmental pollution control company. Former president Frank W. Zurn was the first lay person to serve on the Board of Trustees at Villa Maria College, after being elected in 1967.
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Unknown Artist and Title
Portrait of Dean Gerald R. Kraus by Beatrice Kraus
Portrait of Beatrice Kraus by Zolta Heya
Portrait of Carl Frederich Gauss by Unknown Artist
Art in Every Corner Contributors
Fall 2024 Art Book
Photography
Hernan “H.H.” Hurtado
Cover Art
Alejandra Valen Contreras
Mendez
Layout
Jem Neumann
Writing
Jem Neumann
Editors
Jaclyn Clover
Laura Giannelli
Andy Lapiska
Paige Penfield
Carolyn Tome
Web Design
Nikki Luoma
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