This past year, we honored the golden anniversary of the Sordoni Art Gallery (SAG), an integral part of not only the Wilkes campus but also the greater northeastern Pennsylvania community For 50 years, the SAG has brought people together through art and has inspired art-lovers and novices alike to explore the world through the thoughtful perspectives displayed on its walls.
Located at the cross section of campus and community, the SAG embraces its role as a cornerstone for the arts and gateway to arts education in the region. Each year, the SAG pairs exhibitions with innovative programming and high-quality publications across a wide range of media, topics, cultures and time periods from around the world. Wilkes University is so proud to provide exposure to a multitude of art forms in the welcoming learning environment that SAG offers.
In addition to the shows presented in the Gallery, the outstanding team at the Sordoni infuses the arts further into the community
through family and community event programming. Initiatives including their Second Saturday family series, Farmers’ Market pop-ups and representation at regional events ensure that access and exposure to the arts - an essential part of every healthy, thriving community - is possible.
If, like us, you believe an appreciation of arts and culture is essential to understanding the world around us, please visit the Gallery and join us as a member this year.
It is a privilege for Wilkes University to be the home of the SAG and we look forward to 50 more years of its vibrant programming.
With gratitude,
Greg Cant, President
director’s greeting
Dear Friend of the Sordoni Art Gallery,
During the past year, we have been fortunate to celebrate the fifty year legacy of the Sordoni Art Gallery. From our landmark Rose O’Neill exhibition to featuring historic trail blazers of photography in Framing Moments to the impressive and unique Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Artwork of Independence, we have been delighted that you have been an instrumental part of the gallery’s history. Being a member of the gallery supports our free program offerings such as our Art in Context lecture series and Art in Your Hands workshops, as well as our student design fellowship. Your support truly makes us a “different kind of classroom” that sets us apart from other institutions in the region. With a new academic year on the horizon full of exciting exhibitions and programs, we hope we can count on your support.
With high hopes,
Heather Sincavage, Director Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University
PS. You have two ways to claim your membership. Either complete and mail your pledge card included in this package or make your secure payment on our website at wilkes.edu/sordoni.
a lasting legacy
After the devastating flood that impacted the Wyoming Valley in June 1972, Margaret “Barney” Sordoni (1915-1989) and her son, Andrew J. Sordoni, III worked alongside Dr. Eugene Farley, the first president of Wilkes College, to create a unique resource for the college and community. Since 1973, the Sordoni Art gallery has continuously played an integral role in bringing high-caliber art and artists to the Wilkes campus.
Shortly after assuming the presidency of Wilkes University, Dr. Patrick Leahy assembled an Arts Task Force to develop a three-part strategic plan geared toward leveraging the Sordoni Art Gallery’s full potential. The expanded gallery relocated to downtown Wilkes Barre in 2017 and is now a hub of creative and academic activity.
Since our reopening, we pride ourselves on our quality exhibitions, cross-disciplinary programming, and free all-ages lectures, events, and workshops. As we celebrate our golden anniversary, we look forward to building a robust new chapter of the gallery’s legacy.
a different kind of classroom
The mission of the Sordoni Art Gallery is to encourage an appreciation of the arts and an understanding of its role in society through direct engagement with art. Our main focus is to present high-quality exhibitions, related programming, and publications in a wide range of media, topics, cultures, and time periods.
The vision of the Sordoni Art Gallery is to be a recognized and respected center for the creation of innovative learning environments and programs for the appreciation and study of visual art benefiting the academic and cultural community of Wilkes University and the surrounding region.
To achieve this vision the Sordoni Art Gallery is committed to being a place:
Where education and exhibition are central to the Gallery’s public service mission
Where an ambitious year-round exhibition schedule features artists of regional, national, and international reputation
Where multiple and diverse audiences are comfortable and welcome
And that collaborates, supports, and serves arts and cultural initiatives in the region
year in review
Our 50th Anniversary year honored our rich history as an exhibition venue of excellence. Whether you marveled at Wilkes-Barre native Rose O’Neill’s prolific and groundbreaking career or attended any one of our free programs like Second Saturday, your involvement and support of the gallery is essential to our success. Thank you for helping make that a reality during our 2023-2024 academic year.
VISITORS SERVED
FREE PROGRAMS AND TOURS OFFERED
EXHIBITIONS
STUDENT STAFF MEMBERS
VOLUNTEER HOURS CONTRIBUTED
become
a member membership program levels
Help support our mission by joining a family of supporters dedicated to providing quality arts experiences to Wilkes University students and the surrounding community. With your membership, you will be able to explore the gallery with preview access, attend special members-only events, and be the first to know what’s happening next at the Sordoni Art Gallery.
student MEMBER
Membership is FREE for all college students. All students are welcome with a valid student ID. To enroll, email: Melissa Carestia at melissa.carestia@wilkes.edu with your name, mailing address, email, and expected graduation date.
With an Individual membership, you will have preview access to gallery programming.
Benefits include:
-access to members-only exhibition previews; -advanced registration and discounts on special events; - quarterly “Inside Look” newsletter and exhibition announcements mailed directly to your home.
individual MEMBER
Family Membership includes benefits for two adults and all children under 18 years old. Membership provides you and your family with preview access to all gallery programming. Benefits include: -access to members-only exhibition previews; -advanced registration and discounts on special events; - quarterly “Inside Look” newsletter and exhibition announcements mailed directly to your home.
family MEMBER
ONE HUNDRED
art lover MEMBER
As part of the Art Lover membership, you will engage with the local art community and beyond, all while supporting our mission.
Benefits include:
TWO
HUNDRED AND FIFTY
-all Family Membership benefits;
-reciprocal benefits at over 700 museums and galleries through the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) program;
-two Guest Passes to eligible members-only events;
-acknowledgement of gift by name listed in exhibition catalog.
As a member of the Director’s Circle, you are an arts advocate deeply committed to sharing and advancing the Sordoni Art Gallery mission.
Benefits include:
-all Art Lover Membership benefits
-four Guest Passes to eligible members-only events -exclusive access to unique events and opening parties, as well as notice for registration-only events; -acknowledgement of gift by name listed on the gallery donor wall and exhibition catalog; -complimentary exhibition catalog mailed directly to your home.
director’s circle MEMBER
FIVE HUNDRED
As a Lifetime Member, your philanthropic commitment to the Sordoni Art Gallery leaves lasting impact throughout your community.
lifetime MEMBER
Benefits include:
-all Director’s Circle Membership benefits; -private tour of exhibition with curator or director prior to official opening date; -free admission to gallery workshops and registration-only events; -complimentary on-site event parking.
FIVE THOUSAND+ (ONE TIME PAYMENT)
support student scholarship
Our office is an incubator full of creativity. If you have received our postcards, seen our banners, follow our social media, or taken home our catalogs, you have experienced the output of our talented student staff.
The Student Fellow plays an integral part in our messaging with you. This position develops how our programs are interpreted so you know what to expect when you visit the gallery. From the postcard you get in the mail to the words you see on our walls, this student is tasked with conceptualizing and setting the tone for our gallery programs. The student then develops their working timeline based on discussions with vendors, Sordoni Art gallery staff, and their own academic schedule.
In recent years, the Sordoni Art Gallery established a Student Fellowship Fund to support specialized projects of the gallery. This allows our students the professional experience to interact with artists and vendors while gaining valuable lines on their resume.
student design fellowship at the sordoni art gallery
Consider donating to our fellowship fund when you renew your membership.
a university committed to the arts
Wilkes University has long considered the visual and performing arts to be an integral part of a high-quality university education. The College of Arts and Sciences provides nearly 500 students with the opportunity to explore the creative arts, exercise critical thinking skills, and succeed in a global community.
Wilkes offers a variety of performing arts programs, including a complete musical theater arts performance experience; and minors in dance, music, and theater. The Department of Integrative Media, Art, and Design allows students to expand their creative portfolios through interdisciplinary work. Together with the Sordoni Art Gallery, these programs enrich our campus, the surrounding community, and the Wilkes student experience.
Do you have a love and appreciation of the arts?
Share your passion for the arts with your community by volunteering with us at the Sordoni Art Gallery. When you volunteer at the gallery, you’ll be supporting our mission by directly engaging visitors with the arts. Depending on your interests and schedule, there are many ways for you to contribute your skills to the Gallery!
Sordoni Art Gallery is always accepting volunteer applications. We will contact applicants with the required skills, interests, and availability for interviews as volunteer positions become available. See our website to fill out an application: wilkes.edu/sordoniartgallery.
