The Legacy of Mister Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers was a pioneer in children’s media, but he was also an artist, minister, musician, composer, environmentalist, and advocate for children and families. With his gentle, unassuming manner, he made a profound impression on everyone he encountered.

Fred Rogers treated everyone with the same respect and sensitivity that he knew had helped him as a child. His strong moral code informed every aspect of his life—from how he lived, to the community that he chose for his family and work. As a gifted communicator Fred Rogers was able to tie all of those elements together.

The legacy of Mister Fred Rogers is of great value and importance—not just to children, but to all of us. His thoughtful and sensitive approach continues to be of great value to many generations of children through his programs and the work of others who follow his example.

Continuing the Legacy

Latrobe Art Center continues to nurture and inspire his timeless wisdom to children, families, and professionals through our art education, exhibitions, and community events.

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was the brainchild of Mrs. Elaine “Laney” Rogers Crozier, Mister Rogers’ sister, and her friend Mrs. Elizabeth “Libby” Hazlett. Mrs. Crozier and Mrs. Hazlett had a vision to create an art center in the heart of downtown Latrobe where local artists could exhibit their work. Twenty-two years later, Latrobe Art Center is a welcoming place for adults and children of all skill levels to grow their artistic talents and interests, reaching out to the community through art education programming, community involvement, quality artwork, and our local eatery, Ricolita’s Café.

The Art Center features two spacious, professionally lighted, state-of-the-art galleries which allows us to exhibit all entries to the Mister Fred Rogers Fine Arts Juried Exhibition in a museum-quality space for the enjoyable viewing of the artists and public alike.

We encourage you to participate in this year’s juried exhibition and showcase your work in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Please, Won’t You Be Our Neighbor?

AWARDS

Best in Show— $600

Mister Fred Rogers Award of Distinction— $500

Ned J. Nakles Award of Excellence in Oil/Acrylic— $300

Awards of Merit (At Judge's Discretion)— $200

Lucy Pollock Award (for Best “Pet Portrait” - any medium, 2D or 3D) - $100

Juried Exhibition Guidelines:
Registration Deadline July 29, 2024

Greater Latrobe School District Permanent Art Collection

This juried exhibition gives the artist the opportunity to be chosen for consideration into the Greater Latrobe School District’s highly acclaimed Special Art Collections. The senior high, junior high, and three elementary schools select paintings from this exhibit.

One of the Greater Latrobe School District’s treasures is a unique art collection featuring over 200 paintings; it is the largest one in the United States that is entirely student-selected and, for the most part, student-purchased.

Since 1936, the Special Art Collection has been a pioneering program for students of the Greater Latrobe School District and the citizens of Latrobe and the surrounding areas.

Eighty-two years later, the high school students still vote each year to determine what works should be added to the Special Art Collection.

The GLSD Art Conservation Trust, founded in 1991, oversees the art collection and raises funds for its conservation and exhibitions.

Eligibility

• Open to all artists 18 years of age or older.

• All work must be the submitting artist’s own original design and concept, created independently and completed within the last five years. (Store bought kits or paint-by-number pieces are NOT considered original artwork and will not be accepted.)

• Reproductions of original artwork will NOT be accepted.

• All media is accepted and encouraged, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional.

• Artwork previously accepted in past years to the Mister Fred Rogers Fine Arts Juried Exhibition will NOT be accepted for this year’s show.

• All entries must be ready for exhibition. Pieces MUST be framed, securely fastened with picture wire, and ready to hang. Sculptures should stand securely. NO EXCEPTIONS!

   

Juror

Summer Zickefoose

Summer Zickefoose is an interdisciplinary artist residing in northeast Ohio. She grew up amidst the square miles and cornfields of Iowa. The smells of fresh cut hay, horse manure, and hog pens lodged permanently in her subconscious have, in one way or another, led to artwork that is deeply influenced by Midwestern and rural American culture and landscape.

Zickefoose received a BA in Art History and a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Iowa in 2000, and received a MFA in Multimedia Art and Ceramics from the University of Florida in 2004. Her sculptures, performances, videos, and installations have been exhibited both nationally and internationally, most notably at the Athens Institute for Contemporary Art in Athens, Georgia, the Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the Raccolte Frugone museum in Genoa, Italy. Summer has been an artist-in-residence at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts in Nebraska City, Nebraska, Flaxart Studios in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and at the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle, Maine.

Registration & Entry Fee

Artists are asked to submit a nonrefundable fee of $35.00 for up to three (3) entries. An additional $5.00 is charged for a fourth piece. Register in-person, by mail, or online using the button below.

For mail-in registrations, please make checks payable to:

Latrobe Art Center

and mail to:

819 Ligonier Street

Latrobe, PA 15650

Digital Entries

• ­All 2-D and 3-D artwork must be submitted digitally for the juried process.

• Submitted files must be a high-resolution JPEG or PNG with a file size no larger than 5 MB.

• Entries may be submitted via the electronic registration form above or via email at info@latrobeartcenter.org

Please clearly label the file with the title of the entry.

Notification of Acceptance

All artists will be notified of their acceptance into the exhibition by Monday, August 12, 2024.

Accepted artwork must be framed and ready for hanging. Artwork must be identified on the back with the following information:

• Artist’s Name

• Email

• Title

• Medium

• Framed Size

• Date of Completion

• Price

Please indicate the “Top” of your piece.

Delivery/Drop-Off of Accepted Work(s)

Artwork will be accepted Monday, August 26 – Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at Latrobe Art Center between the hours of 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  All artwork must be delivered at this time.

Exhibition

This exhibition will be on display from September 1 – 30, 2024.

Opening reception and Award Presentation will be on Thursday, September 5, 2024 from 5 – 7 p.m.

Artwork Pick-up

All entries must be picked up at Latrobe Art Center on Monday, September 30 OR Tuesday, October 1, 2024 between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Latrobe Art Center will not store artwork.

Insurance

All work will be handled with care. Latrobe Art Center is not responsible for any damage.

Sales

Generally work submitted should be for sale. However, if you wish to exhibit pieces that you do not wish to sell, indicate “Not For Sale” with a zero for the price. A sales commission of 30% will be retained by Latrobe Art Center on all sales. All sales are handled by the staff of Latrobe Art Center.