Dialogue

Masked Exhibition Artists’ Talk

Seating is limited for this event. Please register at https://masked-exhibit.eventbrite.com

Moderator:

  • James Harper, Associate Research Professor of Art History, Director of Museum Studies

Artists:

  • William Doan, professor of theatre and director of the Penn State Arts & Design Research Incubator (ADRI) in the College of Arts and Architecture
  • Michael Green, M.D., professor of humanities and medicine, physician and bioethicist, chair of the Hospital Ethics Committee, director of the Program in Bioethics, Departments of Humanities and Internal Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Emily Steinberg, lecturer in fine art at Penn State Abington, artist in residence at Drexel College of Medicine, and visual narrative editor for Cleaver Magazine.

Masking is a complex act with as many histories as there are cultures. Mask traditions cover the gamut of human belief systems and practices from the mystical to the practical and from the political to the personal. COVID-19 has created yet another complex series of masking practices that vary across the globe. The three artists presenting work in this exhibit have their own distinct responses to "masking." But they also share a common approach – combining images and text in the tradition of Graphic Medicine and Visual Narratives, to make what are broadly called “comics.” This exhibit not only reflects the outcomes of their collaboration but also the process, which involved many Zoom meetings and conversations to help them build solidarity despite working alone.

Join the artists in person for a discussion about this work. The talk will be recorded for future viewing.

Masked is on display in Borland Project Space (125 Borland Building, University Park) through March 2. It is open to the public from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Visit the online exhibition at https://spark.adobe.com/page/cevVdvRawvSZr/