Current and retired art faculty to show work through Oct. 29
Art Gallery Exhibit: Current and Retired Faculty
Reception & Artist Talk: Saturday, Oct. 2, 5:30 p.m.
On display: Sept. 19, 2021 – Oct. 29, 2021
Location: Hershberger Art Gallery, Music Center
Cost: Free and open to the public
Current and retired Goshen College art faculty members will display their work in an exhibit in the Hershberger Art Gallery from Sept. 19 through Oct. 29, 2021, with a reception and artist talk on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. during Homecoming Weekend.
Current faculty members in this show include Merrill Krabill, Randy Horst and John Mishler, along with retired faculty Marvin Bartel, John Blosser, Abner Hershberger and Judy Wenig-Horswell.
The Hershberger Art Gallery is located inside the Goshen College Music Center. The Gallery is generally open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on business days and Saturday during the academic year, and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Merrill Krabill is a professor of art at Goshen College. Krabill graduated from Goshen College in 1979 and earned his MFA from Claremont Graduate University in 1986. Throughout his career, he has filled positions such as studio assistant for ceramics artist Paul Soldner, adjunct lecturer at Portland State University, associate professor of art at Bethel College and artist-in-residence at Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in Shigaraki, Japan. Currently, Krabill teaches ceramics and photographyand serves on the city of Goshen’s Mayor’s Arts Council. His current studio work uses the metaphor of death and resurrection to explore life’s pain and loss.
Randy Horst is a professor of art at Goshen College. Horst holds an associate’s degree from Hesston College (1979), a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College (1983) and an MFA from Bowling Green State University (1986). He has served as graphic designer and art director for Mennonite Mutual Aid (now Everence) and Great Harvest Bread Company. He has also taught at the University of Montana Western and Bowling Green State University, and he currently teaches art history, graphic design and other courses at Goshen College. His current studio work focuses on Horst’s interest in playing with visual information.
John Mishler is an associate professor of art at Goshen College. Mishler graduated from Goshen College in 1972 and earned his MFA from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 1977. He currently teaches sculpture classes at Goshen College. As a nationally renowned sculptor, Mishler has works in many public and corporate collections, including ESPN Zone, Chicago; Wisconsin Percent for Art Commission, University of Wisconsin; and Andrew Corporation, Orland Park. His pieces have also been featured in private collections across the United States, Canada and the South of France. Mishler specializes in the use of the common metals including aluminum, copper, steel and stainless steel, and many of his outdoor pieces incorporate kinetic energy and have moving parts that turn with the wind.
Marvin Bartel is a Goshen College professor emeritus of art. Bartel graduated from Bethel College in 1960 and went on to receive a master’s degree and doctoral degree in art education from the University of Kansas. In 1970, he accepted a position at Goshen College and taught ceramics, architectural design and other courses until his retirement in 2002. Bartel continues to be active in the art community as a consultant, lecturer and leader in the field of art education. Bartel’s work is multi-faceted, with pieces ranging from ceramic vases to hand-crafted sinks and fireplaces.
Judy Wenig-Horswell is a Goshen College associate professor emerita of art. Wenig-Horswell attended Bowling Green State University, where she received a bachelor’s of fine art degree in painting (1968) and an MFA in jewelry (1970). She taught numerous metals and studio courses at Goshen College from 1973 to 2009. Since her retirement, Wenig-Horswell has helped establish and direct the Goshen Jewelers Guild. She specializes in the lost wax casting process and creating jewelry and small sculptures using bronze and sterling silver.
John Blosser is a Goshen College professor emeritus of art. A 1970 graduate of Goshen College, Blosser also holds a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University (1979) and an MFA from Arizona State University (1986). Blosser began teaching at Goshen College in 1978 and retired in 2011. He continues to draw and paint using charcoal, ink and oil mediums, and his current studio work focuses on aqueous watercolor medium.
Abner Hershberger is a Goshen College professor emeritus of art. Herhsberger holds a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College (1960), a master’s degree in teaching from Indiana University Bloomington (1965) and an MFA from the University of Michigan (1970). He began teaching at Goshen College in 1962 as an adjunct professor and retired in 1999 as professor of art. Throughout his career, Hershberger has showcased more than 20 solo shows, and his work can be found on display in many permanent collections across the country. His multimedia work features the use of acrylic paints and silk-screened prints, and he often fuses together images of his rural childhood with abstract and colorful shapes.