Joseph Plavcan Centennial Exhibition

click here for a downloadable PDF of the exhibition catalog

Main Floor Gallery
June 28, 2008 – September 14, 2008

This year marks the centennial of the birth of Joseph Plavcan (1908¬–1981), arguably Erie’s most significant painter. Interest in Plavcan’s work has increased steadily in the years since his death, and there have been several exhibitions showcasing his work and the work of his many students. The Erie Art Museum will celebrate Joseph Plavcan’s centennial with a survey exhibition featuring works on loan from a variety of private collections.

Plavcan was born in Braddock, Pennsylvania, and his family moved to Erie while he was still a child. At Academy High School his teacher was painter George Ericson (also known as Eugene Iverd), who encouraged him to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and become a professional artist. In 1928 he was awarded a Cresson Scholarship to study abroad in Europe, where he was influenced by the experiments in color that artists were making at the time. In January of 1932 he started teaching at Erie Technical High School, a job he held until his retirement in 1970. His impact on the Erie art scene, through the students he taught as well as through his own work, is incalculable.

Plavcan was a prolific artist throughout his life, painting constantly. Indeed, one of the most common recollections of former students is how he was always at work on a painting in the classroom, as well as his projects in his home studio and painting on location throughout the region, especially on Erie’s waterfront. Seeing a teacher actually painting—making art every day—was a wonderful inspiration, and a great reassurance to the aspiring artists in his classes. During the period immediately after his college years Plavcan actively pursued exhibitions and participated in the major competitive exhibitions of the period, including the Corcoran Biennial in Washington, D.C., the Carnegie International Exhibition in Pittsburgh, and at the Art Institute of Chicago. As time passed, and his family grew, he put less energy into trying to have his work seen, preferring to spend his limited time on painting. After his retirement from teaching, Plavcan exhibited new work both locally and around the country, but the majority of his work, including dozens of portraits as well as the landscapes and urban views for which he is known, has remained in private collections and has never been seen by the public. The Museum is pleased to celebrate Joe’s 100th birthday by sharing some of his visual wealth with our audience.

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