Richard Hower sees faces in rocks. Don’t worry about his state of mind, though — that’s just his vision as an artist.

The Indiana County resident spoke Thursday during Lunch a l’Art at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley, where three of the faces he has carved from native Pennsylvania sandstone are on display.

An industrial designer by trade, Hower said he is an avid fisherman who started seeing faces in the rocks he passed in streams and fields as he pursued his angling hobby.

About 10 years ago, he said, “I started to take them home and see what I could expose.”

Although he sometimes starts with the preconceived idea of a face, Hower said, “The most interesting thing to me is to try to figure out what’s inside the stone. Sometimes, I’m surprised with what was revealed.”

The work is done with a variety of chisels, in what he described as a great reliever of stress and anxiety, and with power tools such as a drill and pressure washer.

The ladies who lunch were charmed with the examples he brought along, inquiring on prices and commenting on how this or that one might work as additions to their own gardens.

Hower’s carved trio, “Prayers, Love and Courage,” can be seen at the museum through Feb. 14 as part of the 14th Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Council for the Arts.

On the lunch list: site curator Sommer Toffle, former curator Madelon Sheedy, Vernie West, Bonnie Hoffman, Susan Endersbe, Helen Thorne, Margot Reynolds, Doris Wood, Audrey Tostevin, Marian Seibert, Janice Garvey, Georgia Ashbrook, Ginny Alexander, Barbara Kravits, Mary Weidlein, Mary Ann McAuliffe, Anne Sisson, Sue Kiren and Connie Pilz.

— Shirley McMarlin

Westmoreland’s New Exhibits

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art celebrated its newest exhibition Saturday, “Concerning the 1930s in Art: Paintings from the Schoen Collection.” Forty American scene paintings depicting the Great Depression were the highlight of a night filled with memorable touches.

Guests enjoyed foods introduced in the 1930’s, like Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Peanut Butter on Ritz Crackers topped with bacon, served by the Women’s Committee who were dressed as French maids. Three students from Seton Hill University painted a scene from a house inside an alcove, which included a chair, desk and window centered around a large Philco radio playing period music.

Jason Schoen ‘s collection of paintings of farms and factories, workers and families, entertainment and politics and escapism, packed the Westmoreland Saturday. He will return on March 25th at 7 p.m. to host a gallery talk.

Also introduced Saturday was Walsh Gallery artist Ben Schachter’s Kosher/Treif and Eruvim collections, which feature works that integrate conceptual art and Jewish Law.

The guest list included Henry Adams, professor of American art at Case Western University; William Bodine , director of the Frick Art & Historical Center; William Eiland, director of the Georgia Museum of Art; Nanette Maciejunes, executive director, and Melissa Wolf, curator, both of the Columbus Museum of Art; and Dr. Leo Mazow, curator of American art at Palmer Museum of Art. Representing the Carnegie Museum of Art were Lyn Zelevansky , Henry J. Heinz II director, Louise Lippincott , curator of fine arts, and Amanda Zennder , assistant curator. Also seen: The WMAA’s director/CEO Judith O’Toole, curator Barbara Jones, Jonathon Boos, Sue Kiren, Michael and Lilli Nieland, Marty and Susan O’Brien, Abby Schachter, Graham Shearing, Mary Thomas, Geoff and Jane Tolley, Joyce and Wayne Wiester, Melissa King, Brad Isles, Rose Mack, Sister Mary Kay Neff and Chuck and Sally Loughran.

— Jennifer Miele, WTAE

Artists’ Attic Auction

Bargain hunters can peruse forgotten treasures at the Artists’ Attic Auction through Feb. 27 at Greensburg Art Center in Hempfield.

Items displayed at Saturday’s opening included jewelry, glassware, pottery, holiday decorations and framed and unframed art.

Mary Vahal and Sandy Griswold, both from Greensburg, shopped for gifts for family and friends.

Lora Losier loaded her Jeep with doll molds with the help of Ann Gravelle, an instructor at the center.

Losier, director of Community Psychiatric Centers in Greensburg, said she planned to use the molds, donated by Shirley Barefoot, in an abstract sculpture.

“It will be a great project, to get together with my artist friends and see what we can come up with.”

Seen at the event: Alan and Betty Reese, Bill and Bonnie Hoffman, Pat Majcher, Jan Barone, Judith Gentile, Jack and Evie Sharbaugh, Janice Garvey, Kay Rowe, Mary Ann Calabrase, Susan Kiren and Susan Pollins.

— Dawn Law

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