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Creative freedom, diverse perspectives, talent, camaraderie, and recognition are hallmarks of Oglebay Institute’s annual Crosscurrents art exhibition at the Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling.

A staple in OI’s exhibition season for 43 years, Crosscurrents is a unique blend of styles, techniques, mediums, and subject matter that collectively reflects the creative energy in the community and beyond. Each year, dozens of artists vie for the opportunity to be showcased here among the finest artwork from West Virginia and surrounding states. A guest juror selects the works for the exhibit and cash prizes are awarded to winning artists.

Crosscurrents 2022 is on display now-July 2. Gallery hours are 9am-5pm Monday-Friday and 10am-4pm Saturday. Admission is free.

Oglebay Institute curator of exhibitions Lisa Rasmussen curated the exhibit and Delanie Jenkins, associate professor in studio arts at the University of Pittsburgh, served as juror.

The Crosscurrents exhibition, as its name suggests, is a place where various artists working across all mediums gather to share their differing thoughts, beliefs, and experiences. Although certain topics can sometimes be derived within the exhibit, there is no single theme for Crosscurrents.

More than 200 pieces by 89 artists were submitted for entry into Crosscurrents 2022. Entries came from West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland. Jenkins selected 80 pieces for the exhibition and chose first, second and third place along with two honorable mentions. The winners were announced during the opening reception and awards ceremony May 12.

Winners of Crosscurrents 2022

1st Place: Jennifer Eddins, Mount Airy, Maryland— “Jailbreak” (photography)
2nd Place: Susan Hernishin, Bethel Park, PA— “526 seconds” (mixed media)
3rd Place: Elizabeth Hestick of Fairmont, WV— “Moonrise” (mixed media)

Merit Awards
Dianna Sheller Burke, Washington, PA— “Antler Work”
Cindy Berceli, Edgewood, PA— “The Mask 2022”

About the Show

“There is wonderful storytelling and use of color that runs through this exhibition. There are many different stories to see in this work,” Rasmussen said. “This exhibit in some ways shows where we’ve been over the last few years and through the vivid colors, scenes of serenity and happier times, it also shows hope.”

Rasmussen added that Jenkins “did a masterful job of choosing works that together as a collection create a snapshot of our current times.”

“I have always thought of crosscurrents in relation to the movement of water—a depth and flow containing multiple tempos and trajectories,” Jenkins said in her juror’s statement. “Whether envisioning currents as water, energy, migrations, or ideas, the flow is dynamic and alive, creating networks of interaction, exchange, and potential, in response to the conditions of time and place.”

Jenkins congratulated the contributing artists by saying, “The generous act of making and sharing is one that can be uncertain, vulnerable, liberating, and joyous—moving the work out of the studio into the world completes the act of making and often requires courage. To all of the artists, I am honored to be in community with your passions, labors, and courage. Thank you for sharing; may your dynamic and alive crosscurrents flow.”

Online Gallery

Rasmussen has created an online Crosscurrents gallery for those unable to see the exhibit in person.

“Works can be viewed and purchased online, which allows artists an opportunity to get their work out to new and larger audiences. It is important to find ways for artists to show and sell their work, but it is just as important to provide individuals, who cannot go to a gallery or event, opportunities to view, learn, and grow,” said Rick Morgan, director of the Stifel Fine Arts Center.

Thank You Sponsors

Opportunities for artistic expression and personal growth at the Stifel Fine Arts Center are made possible, in part, through generous corporate support. United Bank is the corporate sponsor for the Stifel Center’s 2021-22 art exhibition season and has served as the season sponsor for many years.

“United Bank’s longtime support of the annual exhibition season makes it possible for the Stifel Fine Arts Center to thrive,” said Oglebay Institute development director Micah Underwood. “Their generosity creates opportunities for local artists to share their work in shows like Crosscurrents and for our community to enjoy the pleasure of touring the galleries, meeting artists, and even adding new pieces to their own collections. We are proud to count United Bank among our dedicated community partners.”

Crosscurrents 2022 was also made possible through the generous support of the members of the Institute as well as with financial assistance from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.

About the Stifel Fine Arts Center

Housed in the historic Edemar Mansion, the Stifel Fine Arts Center is a public arts center with galleries, classrooms, and performance space. It serves as a gathering place for artists, emerging artists, art lovers, students, educators, and families–connecting and engaging the community in creative pursuits.

Towngate Theatre’s 2021-22 main stage season is dedicated to Wheeling playwright Tom Stobart, who died in 2020. The season has celebrated his life and legacy by staging some of his plays and introducing new audiences to his works.

Stobart’s “Under the Bridge to the Stars” will be staged for two weekends—May 6, 7, 8 & May 13 and 14.

The play centers on Tucker, a man who has lost nearly everything because of his alcoholism and rents a room above a bar where he plans to drink himself to death. He forms a relationship with Dee, a fellow alcoholic, but it is uncertain whether this relationship will lead to salvation or spiraling to rock bottom.

About Tom Stobart

Stobart was a longtime community theater actor, appearing in more than 100 local plays and musicals. He was also well-known in the community as the proprietor of the Paradox, an eclectic used bookstore in Centre Wheeling. Stobart authored 17 one-act and six full-length plays.

Most of his works are thinly veiled autobiographies, including “Under the Bridge to the Stars.” Stobart was an alcoholic and was upfront about his addiction and how it ravaged his life and health.

Playing the Role of Tucker

Oglebay Institute director of performing arts Tim Thompson was a longtime friend and collaborator of Stobart. Thompson is playing the role of Tucker in Towngate’s production.

“This is a story that many of us can identify with. I know I do because Tom was one of my best friends,” Thompson said. “He fought his addiction most of his life, and was a brilliant, talented, compassionate, and stubborn soul who just couldn’t find a way.”

Thompson added, “One of the main reasons we do theatre is to raise questions about what it is to be a human being. And addiction is, for many of us, a part of being a human being. So, what I want for our audiences is to learn from this story.”

While the story centers on serious subject matter, Thompson said, there are many comic moments along the way.

Thompson said playing the role of Tucker has been an honor and a challenge because, like Stobart, the character is complex.

He recalls Stobart discussing “Under the Bridge to the Stars” with him as he wrote it.

“It is a true honor to say these lines that Tom wrote during the years we were very close friends. It was difficult at first. Made me sad. Then, it turned into pride and joy because I am revisiting my friend in spirit. And we get to share his beautifully written play and this important message with our community.”

Talented Cast & Director

P.D. Gregg directs the production and a talented cast of actors. In addition to Thompson, cast members include Amanda Leigh, Dee Gregg, Charles Griffith, Brian Jefferies, Brendan Sheehan, Moira Hamilton, CJ Farnsworth.

Get Tickets

Evening performances of “Under the Bridge to the Stars” take place at 8pm May 6, 7, 13 and 14. A matinee performance takes place at 3pm Sunday, May 8.

The production is part of Towngate’s main stage season, which is sponsored by Unified Bank.

Purchase tickets online or call 304-242-7700. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, if available. Box office opens one hour prior to curtain.

Towngate Theatre is in Wheeling’s historic Centre Market District. This church-turned-theater is one of several Wheeling venues operated by the non-profit Oglebay Institute. Other OI facilities include: The Stifel Fine Arts Center and School of Dance on National Road, the Mansion Museum, Glass Museum and Schrader Environmental Education Center in Oglebay.

In addition to community theater, Towngate offers children’s theater, ballet, improvisational comedy, and live music. Towngate is also a single screen cinema, offering movies on select evenings and features changing art exhibitions in The Gallery at Towngate. Theater classes are also offered year-round.