“FOUND & FAUX” FEATURED AT STIFEL

WHEELING, W.Va. (February 18, 2008)- - Award-winning artists Robert Villamagna and Herb Weaver have collaborated to present “Found and Faux,” an exhibition that exemplifies the power of effective composition in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional work.

The exhibition opens Thursday, February 28 at Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center, 1330 National Road with a free and festive public reception from 6:30- 8:30 p.m.

Featuring Villamagna’s assemblages and collages, Weavers ceramic sculptures and several collaborations between the two artists, the exhibition highlights creative arrangement, interaction and dialogue with common visual objects that surround us in everyday situations.

Both artists rely heavily on the “object” to fulfill artistic endeavor- Villamagna through his “found” objects and Weaver through his created “faux” objects. The woks of both artists are thought provoking, sometimes humorous and use everyday items to offer a welcome break from reality.

Villamagna uses the flea market as his palette, acquiring old or discarded items and support them new life through his art.

“I wonder about the person who made these materials, who used them, who held them. I like to think that a part of the soul or energy of that person is still contained in theses things, and now it’s transferred into the artwork,” Villamagna said in his artist’s statement.

Describing his personal artistic style as “lurking somewhere between surrealism and distorted reality,”  Weaver takes inspiration from elements or pieces of everyday life and twists or alters them to create his whimsical, visual puns.

“Often the juxtaposition of two or more relatively familiar objects can create unique relationships, coaxing the eye and the mind to unfold all the possible riddles that lie in the artwork,” he said.

In 2005, Villamagna and Weaver each won the prestigious Governor’s Award in the West Virginia Juried Art Exhibition for their works titled “Fountain of Youth” and “Hook, Lying and Sinker,” respectively. Villamagna is an assistant professor of art at West Liberty State College. Weaver is a professor of fine arts at Bethany College.

United National Bank partnered with Oglebay Institute to present the 2007-2008 season of art exhibitions at the Stifel and is proud to take an active role in support of art in the Upper Ohio Valley.

“Found and Faux” can be seen free of charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday –Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays through April 4.

For more information call 304.242.7700 or visit on the web at www.oionline.com

Part of the Helen B. Gaither Exhibition Season, “Found and Faux” was also made possible through the generous support of the members of the Institute as well as with financial assistance from the West Virginia Commission of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Programs, activities and services of Oglebay Institute are provided equally without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex or disability.