Gallery at Penn College to Host Photographs of Gary Mesa-Gaido

The Gallery at Penn College, on the third floor of Pennsylvania College of Technology's Madigan Library, will host "Public Spaces of Europe," an exhibit of digital photography by Gary Mesa-Gaido, from Feb. 19 to March 14.

An opening reception for the exhibit will take place Tuesday, Feb. 19, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. (No gallery talk is scheduled.) Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 2 to 8 p.m.; and Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. All exhibits are free and open to the public.

Mesa-Gaido's photographs record churches, piazzas, courtyards and skylines.

"Each one of my photographs is made up of an average of 18 individual images, which are digitally stitched together to create a singular image," Mesa-Gaido said. "These undoctored multiple shots or views are taken from the exact same location. The views and places exist, however, the viewer could never see the singular image as it exists in the completed photograph. In reality, the human eye is incapable of viewing these multiple perspectives simultaneously as one image."

Mes a-Gaido uses Adobe Photoshop software to seamlessly stitch the individual images to create a singular panoramic image.

"The seamless photograph causes the viewer to perceive the image to be true, while distortions and the juxtaposition of improbable angles provide evidence that what the viewer sees may not be possible," he said.

He will conduct a workshop at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 16 on Penn College's campus, during which he will teach participants his techniques to digitally stitch a series of his images together to create a cohesive, panoramic image. Class fee is $15 and pre-registration is required. Class size is limited, and basic experience with Photoshop and Macintosh computers is a prerequisite. Call the gallery to register.

Mesa-Gaido received a master of fine arts degree from Ohio University in 1992. Over the past decade, he has exhibited his work in more than 80 international, national and regional juried exhibitions from New York City to San Francisco. He is an associate professor of art at Morehead State University in Kentucky.

His artwork has been supported through various grants and awards, including two Kentucky Arts Council grants. In addition, his pieces are held in the permanent collections of individuals, as well as such organizations as Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. (PPG Industries) and the Avampato Discovery Museum in Charleston, W.Va.

"Public Spaces of Europe" is part of the college's Current View Artist Series, which showcases contemporary artists working in a variety of media. Sponsored by the college's media arts department, it provides an opportunity to broaden and enrich the educational experience at Penn College. The Current View Artist Series includes six artists for 2007-08.

For more about this exhibit and The Gallery at Penn College, visit online , e-mail or call (570) 320-2445.

For general information about the college, visit on the Web , e-mail or call toll-free (800) 367-9222.