Robert Villamagna - West Virginia

“Assemblage, collage and mixed media comprise most of my work,” says Bob Villamagna of West Virginia, who repurposes lithographed metal - such as old tins - into 2-D art that transcends its original commercial purpose.  Bob, who is Assistant Professor of Art at West Liberty University, was just named the 2016 Artist of the Year - a distinction recognizing an individual artist who has impacted exposure to the arts in West Virginia through his or her work.  “His artworks truly speak to the heritage of our state,” said  WV Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith.

Bob’s work has been exhibited at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Andy Warhol Museum, ARC Gallery (Chicago), Penn State’s Robeson Gallery,Pittsburgh Center of the Arts, the Mattress Factory Museum, Erie Museum of Art, Butler Institute of American Art, Huntington Museum of Art,the West Virginia Cultural Center, and the Dikerson Gallery at Tamarack. Robert has three works is in the State of West Virginia Permanent Collection. His work is shown at Gallery on 43rd Street in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh, Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh, and the Annex Gallery at Taylor Books in Charleston, WV.

Jason Lyons - harrisburg, PA

. “Creations from man made objects discarded as refuse and reinterpreted to form objects found in nature are the inspirations for my art,” says Jason Lyons of Harrisburg. The simple spoon forms the body of a rainbow trout; a discarded children's toy becomes the foundation for a moose; horse shoes transform into armadillos. Whose to say every spoon handle is not a bird's wing waiting to take flight? Ideas grow from a single reclaimed object consisting of primarily wood or metal that create the foundation of its re-purpose. Sensing exactly what a certain item is to become just by its very shape, material and innate energy sculptures literally grow from that humble beginning. Building on that the reclaimed objects are then transformed from their mechanized human intentions into organic figures found in nature.”

Jason is a member of Board of Directors of the
PA Guild of Craftsmen

Don Jones - Pittsburgh, PA

“I make robots and other sculptures from the discarded scraps of humainity,” says Pittsburghs Don Jones of Robo-Works. “I've always enjoyed creating art and sculptures. At age 9, my father introduced me to gas, arc welding, brazing, wood working, construction and shop principles. His training combined with a profound admiration for art, nature and science fiction, inspired me to create a large variety of sculptures throughout my childhood. While attending The Art Institute of Pittsburgh I was invited to submit an entry in The Science Fiction and Film Festival which featured local as well as national artists. My 8-foot-long model spaceship, named the Zora Astra won a special judges award.” And the rest is history! Since 1998, Don has professionally promoted his sculptures, including corporate commissions, art furniture, contemporary, indoor/outdoor, stainless steel, aluminum, mild steel, robot assemblage sculptures and the large-scale train layout at the annual PPG Place Gingerbread House Competition and Train Display

Alex Lobus - Pittsburgh, PA

“I have been working with wood for almost 20 years, although I am a long way from where I started, says Alex Lobus.  “A farmhouse next to my shop was going to be torn down, so when I needed wood, I went in with a crow bar and ripped it out. Most of the woodwork in it had been untouched for 50 years, but it had a tattered elegance to it that I found enchanting. I was starting to experiment with faux finishing, and distressed effects. It became obvious that no amount of practice or skill could create a better or more natural appearance than time could. I have been scavenging for old wood ever since.”

“My first pieces using old wood were furniture and functional pieces. I am an okay carpenter, but being measuring twice are not my strengths. So, for the last 5 years I have become more artist than craftsman. It took me a long time to be comfortable calling myself an artist. But that is what I've become. One tiny step at a time.”