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Lisa Rasmussen New Curator at Stifel Fine Arts Center

Artist and educator Lisa Rasmussen has been appointed curator of exhibitions at Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling.

A professional illustrator, designer and artist for most of her career, Rasmussen works in a variety of media both traditional and digital. Her work has been featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Carnegie-Mellon University, a master’s degree in elementary education from Russell State College and a master’s degree in graphic design from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

She is an adjunct art instructor at Waynesburg University and Community College of Allegheny County. Also, she teaches workshops throughout the region, including drawing, painting, design fundamentals, typography, graphic design, illustration and figure drawing at Carnegie-Mellon University and a series of instructional lectures for the docents at the Carnegie Museum of Art. In addition, Rasmussen does freelance and commission work and operates her own studio.

She is a member of the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators, AIGA, Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, American Society of Botanical Artists, Allegheny Highlands Botanical Artists Society.

In her new role, she is responsible for developing and curating the art exhibition season and educational programming related to the exhibits at the Stifel Fine Arts Center as well as Oglebay Institute’s small space gallery at Towngate Theatre. She also works with the visual arts staff to develop and deliver art classes and workshops to a variety of age groups and experience levels.

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 established artists, emerging artists, art lovers, students, educators and families.

The Stifel Fine Arts Center is part of the nonprofit Oglebay Institute, which was established in 1930 by community volunteer to “contribute to the joy of living” through arts, nature and cultural experiences. The Institute operates five other venues in Wheeling—the School of Dance, Towngate Theatre, Mansion Museum, Glass Museum and Schrader Environmental Education Center. Collectively, the hundreds of programs produced each year through the Institute provide education, entertainment and enrichment experiences to more than 70,000 people annually.

 

 

Support “Locally Grown” Talent at Towngate

When most people hear the term “locally grown,” they think of food and other agricultural products produced close to home. At Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre, it refers to the thousands of theater-makers who discover their passions, develop their skills and cultivate their talents through local community theater.

Tom Stobart, one of Wheeling’s most gifted writers, was “one of the first locally-grown talents to create at Towngate,” said Oglebay Institute director of performing arts Tim Thompson. He was raised and educated in Wheeling. He earned his theatrical chops at Towngate under the direction of his mentor—Towngate founder Hal O’Leary. Most of his plays center around places, people and personal experiences from life in his hometown.

Stobart’s Legacy

He was an original Parcel Player (Towngate’s summer youth theater program) and was in Towngate’s first season in 1970’s “Absence of a Cello,” according to Thompson. He went on to appear in more than 100 local plays and musicals and author 17 one-act and six full-length plays.

Towngate staged many of his plays in the late 70s through the 90s. His play “In Terminal Decline” held Towngate’s box office record for many years. Towngate staged a revival of the show in 2015 to sold-out crowds. Theaters in Pittsburgh, Columbus, New York, Los Angeles and Japan have produced his plays. He was also well-known in the Wheeling community—and around the world— as the proprietor of the Paradox, an eclectic used bookstore in Centre Wheeling.

Stobart died in August of 2020. Towngate is celebrating his life and legacy by dedicating the 2021-22 main stage season to him and staging three of his plays. Sponsored by Unified Bank, the season kicks off September 17 with two of Stobart’s one-act plays— “Ever After” and “The Strap.” It closes in May with his full-length play “Under the Bridge to the Stars.”

Tom Stobart (seated) and Tim Thompson in 2007.

About the Plays

Both one acts center on the complications of romantic love and relationships. In “Ever After,” a lonely, middle-aged man and a troubled young woman go from casual acquaintances to inseparable lovers. However, they struggle to understand each other’s definition of love. “The Strap” follows a loving but volatile relationship. A couple becomes hopelessly—and comically—entangled in a web of arguments triggered by a broken purse strap.

All the action and props are pantomimed. Amanda Leigh and Wayne McCord perform “Ever After.” Jamie Hamilton and Sarah Hamilton perform “The Strap.” P.D. Gregg directs.

Sarah Hamilton and Jamie Hamilton

Thompson said both plays allow viewers to reflect on when they have loved and lost as well as how misunderstandings and arguments—sometimes over the silliest things—can destroy relationships. And they are written with “just enough humor to not get too down.”

“His plays are excellent—beautifully written and all have entertaining and thought-provoking themes,” Thompson said. “We want people who have never seen one of his plays to experience his brilliant writing and for those who have to revisit his work.”

Amanda Leigh and Wayne McCord

“We felt there was no better way to memorialize Tom then presenting several of his plays this season,” said Gregg. “Most of Tom’s works are thinly veiled autobiographies. To know his plays is to know him and vice versa.”

He added, “Tom’s amazing ear for dialogue and the universal themes he deals with make his plays extremely accessible and pertinent even years after he wrote them.”

Showtimes

“Ever After” and “The Strap” will be staged for two weekends–September 17, 18, 19 & September 24 and 25. Evening performances take place at 8 p.m. September 17, 18, 24 and 25. A matinee performance takes place at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 19.

Get Tickets

Purchase tickets in advance at www.oionline.com or by calling 304-242-7700. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, if available. Box office opens one hour prior to curtain.

About Towngate

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.

Support the Theatre

Oglebay Institute’s “Preserving Our Past; Creating Your Future” capital campaign is currently underway, and funds raised will address critical priorities throughout the Institute, including roof replacement and structural preservation at Towngate. For more information on ways to give, visit www.OIonline.com/capitalcampaign or contact OI development director Micah Underwood at 304-242-4200.