Julia Kasdorf and Chris Reed landed one of only a handful of seed grants awarded in the second round of the the Arts and Humanities seed grants in the university strategic planning process.

Title: Exhibition and Catalogue: Back and Forth Supports: Advancing the Arts and Humanities Project Leads: Julia Spicher Kasdorf, Professor of English, and Christopher Reed, Distinguished Professor of English and Visual Culture, College of the Liberal Arts Overview: Rich in history and culture rooted in agricultural communities, yet bordered by sprawling suburbs and threatened by industrial development, rural Pennsylvania faces conflicts concerning the value and sustainability of local ways of life. This collaborative initiative involving faculty from the College of the Liberal Arts with the Palmer Museum of Art approaches these questions through a major exhibition – 50 to 60 works – of the art of Warren Rohrer (1927-1995) as it evolved in conversation with poet Jane Turner Rohrer (b. 1928), his partner of 48 years, both modernists from traditional Mennonite farm communities. The exhibition, associated educational programming, and a published catalog together engage vital issues of cultural and environmental sustainability. Julia and Chris not only had an excellent idea for an exhibition but also put together a thoughtful and beautifully conceived proposal. Congratulations to both!