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Altoona professor displays 3D art in exhibition

By Andrew Mollenauer 7 min read

After Rebecca Strzelec inherited costume jewelry from her grandmother, she conjured up the idea to create a touching tribute to the sentimental treasures through her occupational specialty -- 3D wearable art.

The Penn State Altoona visual arts professor, whose work has been recognized and displayed nationally and abroad, shares her new project, "365 Grams," in an exhibit at the Altoona Campus, on display through March 18 in the Sheetz Gallery of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts.

Strzelec came up with the name of the project when she decided to share photos of the jewelry on Instagram and Facebook. She posted a selfie wearing her grandmother's jewelry every day for a year. "Grams" in the title pays tribute to her grandmother.

The articles of jewelry, while not particularly valuable, Strzelec said, have meaning that far surpasses that of any diamond.

"I don't want any of the good stuff," Strzelec said. "That doesn't really mean anything to me. 'Good' is relative."

The jewelry Strzelec inherited includes an array of rings, necklaces and earrings.

The exhibit features more than 70 pieces of wearable objects made from or inspired by her grandmother's jewelry.

Strzelec took the jewelry and repurposed it through lasers and 3D printing.

Strzelec, an early adopter of 3D printing, began using the technique in 1999 when she was a student at Temple University's Tyler School of Art.

Her art has been featured across the country and the world, including in the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, Racine Art Museum in Wisconsin and in an exhibit in Munich, Germany.

She also has a piece in the permanent collection of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

"I've been in several exhibitions that run for a few months at various galleries," Strzelec said. "I think probably the more significant achievement is that my work is part of the permanent collections at several museums. When you have a permanent collection piece, that means the museum has acquired your work."

Penn State Altoona Chancellor and Dean Lori Bechtel-Wherry, who visited Strzelec's exhibit in January, said the visual arts professor's work has touched her personally.

"Rebecca's work, creativity and teaching acumen continue to inspire me," Bechtel-Wherry said. "Each year, she makes holiday tree decorations that have a special meaning in her life, and she has given one to me every year since she's been at our college. I treasure them, and I have the complete collection. Several of the pieces that particularly touch my soul are displayed in my house on a permanent basis and they continue to inspire me and bring solace to my life. Her work is truly inspiring."

A local collector of Strzelec's art, Gail Maatman is excited to attend the exhibit, which she said is a culmination of Strzelec's efforts to "make a true artistic statement."

"She really has a statement to make, and I like that aspect of her work," Maatman said. "She's just very inspiring, and, having an artist and teacher of her caliber here in this area, we're fortunate and lucky to have her in Altoona."

Maatman first met Strzelec when she taught the latter's daughter at Penn-Mont Academy in 2012. Strzelec had donated one of her pieces to the school's auction, and it was then that Maatman took an interest in her work.

"I was just fascinated by the piece when I first saw it," Maatman said. "It was a necklace and it was done using a computer-printed technique. It was a medallion, and on one side was a brick wall and on the other was a feather. It took me a little bit, but I realized it was asking which was heavier -- a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks. I appreciated the humor and wit as well as the technique."

From there, Maatman began following Strzelec on social media. She said Strzelec's project is "eye-catching and definitely attracts attention."

Strzelec said the project's connection to her late grandmother made it more daunting than her more routine projects, which typically touch on themes like politics and science.

"It's a different feeling," Strzelec said. "I think the difference for me is that it's riskier. There are people in my orbit who will call me on stuff. I can't cut any corners. If it's not good enough, I'm going to let down several people who mean a lot to me. If this becomes how we remember (my grandmother), it's got to be really good."

Strzelec's mother, Donna, said she couldn't be more proud.

"We're immensely proud; there are no words," Donna said. "This couldn't hit closer to home. We're so very proud, her father and I both are. It's just amazing; she's worked really hard on this."

Donna said her daughter has always been tremendously driven and dedicated to the personal and professional facets of her life.

"She's caring and sweet, a good mom, daughter, wife and an excellent professor," Donna said. "For as long as I can remember, she wanted to be an artist. It's always been a constant drive in her. She just loves what she does."

Strzelec, originally from St. Louis, grew up in Bucks County, outside Philadelphia, and was inspired by her art teachers to become an artist.

"For as long as I can remember, I was going to be an art teacher," Strzelec said. "Seeing other people passionate about art is what made me want to be an artist."

Initially planning to teach art at the public school level, Strzelec did her student teaching in Philadelphia, but decided she wanted to go in a different direction. Right after graduating from Temple, she got the job as a professor at Penn State Altoona, where she found her niche.

"I've been really lucky, but I've also been lucky just because of my parents and their decisions. I'm not going to say I wouldn't be an artist if I had stayed in Missouri, but I don't know if I would. You always want to look back and think the path was pretty straight, but mine could have been a lot bumpier. I'm just glad I landed where I did when I did."

Strzelec said she's grateful that her journey as an artist, filled with growth and personal discovery, has led her to where she is now. 365 Grams, she said, is perhaps the most special endeavor of her professional career and personal life, too.

"It wasn't even about just wearing it; it was saying goodbye," Strzelec said. "It was wearing each piece for one of its last times. I think, in a weird way, my gram knew all those years ago that this is what I'd do -- that I'd do something really cool, different and interesting with this work instead of just leaving it in a box."

Donna said her daughter knew she had to put the sentimental treasures to good use.

"Rebecca got all this stuff and decided, 'I need to do something with this,'" Donna said. "It's so funny to see it again and reproduced in a different way. It's wonderful and truly amazing how she's reinvented everything while keeping the original concept of the jewelry. She's very creative and I don't know where she got it from. Her grandmother is jumping up and down in heaven; I know it."

Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 814-946-7428.

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