Penn State Abington art student's work displayed at Philadelphia gallery
Adam Rosenberg, a senior art major at Penn State Abington, remembers as a youngster when he and his mother went to Lancaster to see about getting a family dog, and left empty handed.
"It was a puppy mill, and we were shocked and saddened by the conditions these dogs were living in. We decided against buying a dog there," he said.
So when Rosenberg, 25, was approached by the Fostering Undergraduate Exposure on Location (FUEL) Gallery, 249 Arch Street in Philadelphia, to do a painting portraying the cruelty of puppy mills for a controversial month-long animal rights art viewing there titled, "Puppies are Biodegradable," he couldn't say no.
"I'm not an animal rights activist, but I am an animal lover and I couldn't pass up the chance to paint something this important," said Rosenberg, of Philadelphia. His painting, "The Dogs of Lancaster," will be on display through the end of July. He said it is likely the painting will be purchased and included in a traveling art show once the current showing concludes.
Rosenberg said he's been interested in art "since I was born." Initially, he satisfied his artistic cravings by drawing his favorite superheroes from comic books. Later, he became interested in sculpting, and now he concentrates most of his time on creating representational oil paintings. His goal is to evoke an emotional response from those who view his works.
"Since my first interaction with the faculty at Penn State Abington, I have had nothing but positive experiences," he said. "I have attended a number of schools throughout my years as an undergrad student due to multiple moves around the country, and Penn State Abington was understanding and welcomed me with open arms. I feel privileged to be one of the first Art majors to graduate from the campus."