Independent Arts News Reporting See Decades of Legacy at ‘The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition’
Reported on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
Pictured Above: Bucks County Community College honors the creative legacy of retired professors, including some from this 1977 photo, at “The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition” Aug. 25- Oct. 25 at the Hicks Art Center, Newtown. An opening reception takes place from 4 – 7 p.m. Thu. Aug. 28. The photo was taken by Bruce Katsiff, pictured on the TV screen, when he chaired the department and who is among the 27 artists featured in the show. (Bruce Katsiff, “Bucks Arts Faculty in Hicks Art Center,” 1977, silver gelatin print. Photo Credit: Contributed.
NEWSROOM POST: NEWTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
Various works of 27 retired professors are on display Aug. 25 – Oct. 25 at Bucks County Community College’s Hicks Art Center. Opening reception Aug. 28 includes meet-and-greet with new dean of the School of Arts and Communication and live music by a faculty ensemble.
Newtown, PA – Bucks County Community College is putting six decades of artistic legacy on display with “The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition” August 25 to October 25 on the Newtown Campus.
Various works by 27 retired professors and administrators from 1965 to 2025 will be shown and heard throughout the Hicks Art Center, including recent and historic works that have never been exhibited or played in public before.
“The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition highlights the teaching coterie of artists, historians, and musicians who have profoundly impacted modern and contemporary culture locally and around the world,” said Clifford Eberly, exhibitions associate and the show’s curator. “The School of Arts and Communication wanted to recognize their achievements and contributions to Bucks County and beyond.”
Those achievements include six Guggenheim fellows, the founding director of the Michener Art Museum, two professors who went on to teach at Ivy League universities, and some whose works are in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and other prestigious collections, Eberly noted.
Indeed, Bucks was one of the first community colleges in the nation to become an accredited institutional member of both the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). It has also been designated as an All-Steinway School by the legendary piano maker.
“Bucks’ reputation as a creative wellspring in the community is in large part due to the exceptional artists who have populated our faculty and nurtured our students,” said Carolina Blatt, Ph.D., dean of the School of Arts and Communication. “This show is a testament to the caliber of artists who have worked and trained here. Seeing decades of faculty work gathered in one place is sure to inspire.”
Although the College would periodically hold exhibitions to honor faculty as they retired, this is the first to encompass emeriti across all 60 years, according to Fran Orlando, former Director of Exhibitions and Artmobile.
“I was drawn to Bucks because of its status as an outstanding college for the arts, and it did not disappoint,” said Orlando, who worked at Bucks for nearly 35 years. “It was a privilege to work with extraordinary colleagues, some of whom were founding faculty members.”
Professor Emerita Caren Friedman, who recently retired, had a similar experience.
“Having taught at Bucks for 34 years, I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with a group of talented and dedicated artists and colleagues,” said Friedman.” Our studio classes create an interactive learning environment that fosters lasting connections among faculty and students from many diverse backgrounds.”
The public is invited to attend an opening reception from 4 – 7 p.m. Thursday, August 28 in room H-100 of the Hicks Art Center. The event will allow attendees to meet some of the artists and discuss their creative journeys prior, during, and after their teaching careers at Bucks. In addition, the talented Bucks music faculty will provide live entertainment.
What’s more, the reception gives the artistic community and general public the opportunity to meet Blatt, who became the new dean of the School of Arts and Communication in June. Blatt is an arts administrator, educator, and scholar who seeks to catalyze the arts within and beyond the classroom. She recently worked at Rowan University, Drexel University, and the University of the Arts.
Admission to the August 28 reception is free, but a response is requested by emailing foundation@bucks.edu.
“The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition” features sculpture, woodturning, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, glass, musical compositions, and art history research by the following retired professors and administrators.
Jon Alley Selma Bortner Steven M. Bresnen Karl Carter Robert Dodge Frank Dominguez Edward Ferdinand Caren Friedman Alan Goldstein | Emmet Gowin Susan Hagen David Hunter Catherine Jansen Bruce Katsiff Paul F. Keene Jr. Gwendolyn Kerber Stephen S. Levine Emily Brett Lukens | John Mathews Roberta Mayer Marlene E. Miller Fran Orlando Charlotte Schatz Sandra Scicchitani Milton Sigel Mark Sfirri Dan Wilkinson |
The exhibition is dedicated to Professor Emerita Marlene E. Miller, who taught at Bucks from 1966 to 1998 and recently passed away on July 30. Referring to her own art practice, Miller wrote: “I’m always observing the world around me and painting the image of the underdog. I’m compelled to put before people things that attack their feelings and consciousness about social issues.”
Admission to all events is free. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturday noon – 4 p.m. To learn more, visit hicksgallery.bucks.edu and follow on Instagram at @bcccartscomm.
The Hicks Art Center is located on the east end of the campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For directions and a campus map, visit bucks.edu/newtown.
“The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition” is presented by the College’s School of Arts and Communication, which offers eight associate degree majors and two certificate programs. Through coursework, exhibitions, and community engagement, the school prepares students for careers in the arts and inspires appreciation for creative expression. To learn more, visit bucks.edu/arts, email arts.comm@bucks.edu, or call 215-968-8425.
About Bucks County Community College
Founded in 1964, Bucks County Community College is a two-year, public institution offering more than 90 programs of study that lead to either an associate degree or certificate, as well as many workforce training programs on campus, on site, or online. Successful graduates directly launch a career or transfer to four-year colleges and universities to complete a bachelor’s degree, depending on the major. Classes are offered on campus in Newtown, Bristol, and Perkasie, and worldwide through Bucks Online. To learn more, visit bucks.edu.
