Willceau Illo News

The recent closure of The University of the Arts has set me careening down memory lane like a runaway train crashing into memories of my days at The Philadelphia College of Art. The Philadelphia College of Art mutated into the Philadelphia Colleges of Art when it merged with the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts, and then it became The University of the Arts in 1987 because a university sounded so much more prestigious than a mere college and the tuition could be hiked accordingly. And now the university or UArts has closed its doors. Investigations as to why are underway although it sounds like the culprit is a combination of stupidity, negligence and financial chicanery. It made me wonder what my former teachers thought of the shocking collapse of the school. I did an internet search for the faculty that I figured are still with us

Sadly, the teachers I sought are not active on blogs or social media. If I found anything it was mostly mentions of gallery exhibitions here and there featuring photos of familiar looking people puttering around studios. Generally, most all of the work I have found was abstract which isn’t my taste, but I did find one work that came as a startling surprise. Former PCA teacher Ruth Lozner wrote a book, and it was about illustration! Actual, commercial art illustration!

Continue reading →