Journey and Transformation

The Careers of David Stabley & Keith Vanderlin

2022 Exhibit Dates
Mar 15 To May 06

David Stabley’s work includes ceramics, carved wood masks, and sculpture. His clay work varies from hand-built vessels to traditional thrown forms, and he has been experimenting with soda firing using a combination of flashing slips, stains, and glazes. David combines drawings of faces with overlapping abstract shapes, color, textures and patterns that surround and take over the form. His wood works have been a product of teaching wood sculpture at Penn College. His carved masks are inspired by African art and include mixed media additions.

My artwork reflects my attempt to understand our connection, as human beings, to the many worlds we occupy. When we dream, fantasize, consider our place in the ever-expanding universe, or merely interact with our immediate physical world, we are doing so at many different levels. There is a blurring of distinction of what is, what was and what shall be. Our thoughts, feelings and interactions are actually composed of many layers and fragments, stories within stories. My overlapping images, shapes, colors and textures portray these worlds within worlds. I invite you in to explore and experience them, adding another layer of connectedness to what already is.

David received his BA from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, and his BFA and MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. David and his wife Deb made their living for over 30 years selling their ceramic work to galleries across the country. He currently teaches ceramics and wood sculpture at Penn College. He has designed and produced many mosaic murals on campus as well as in the community. Most recently, he was commissioned to create a large-scale triptych for the new Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center.

Keith Vanderlin’s works are comprised of color photographs and wood sculptures. His appreciation for the shapes and forms of nature are a common theme in his work. In making the photographs, he works with both incident and reflected light sources using long camera exposures. He edits the images in Photoshop, often blending together more than one digital file to complete an image. Much of the wood used for his sculptures comes from the trees on his property, using colorful hardwoods, black walnut, black cherry, and chestnut. He works with both the construction and the subtractive processes when making his sculptures, and his inspiration comes from objects found in nature, which are used as a point of departure for the work. His art making process for both the photographs and the wood sculptures is informed by the basic principles of art, design, and science.

Keith received a BA degree in Biology from Gettysburg College, an MEd in Science Education from Temple University, and an MFA in Photography from the Rhode Island School of Design. He has been teaching for 50 years, 30 years at Penn College. He co-developed the wood sculpture class at Penn College with department head Brian Flynn, when they both started making wood sculptures. Keith lives with his wife, Nancy; his dog, Sunny; and two cats, Daisy and Violet, in an old farm house which he and Nancy have renovated. The property surrounding their home has been an inspiration for their art work, a source of food, a home for a flock of chickens, and a playground for their seven grandchildren.