The Gallery at Penn College

Every day you have to abandon your past or accept it, and then, if you cannot accept it, you become a sculptor.
– Louise Bourgeois

Lynden Cline’s work centers around identity after a past filled with chaotic and confusing family situations. Her choice of medium, steel, speaks to her with its energy and strength, and proves to be an effective vehicle to narrate her dark history. While the viewer first sees recognizable forms, such as chairs and beds, these objects hold secrets and mysterious themes. Cline’s physical act of translating her feelings into a structure is part of her process: it takes strength from her and gives her strength in return. She is often overwhelmed by the reaction people have to her work, never thinking work so personal and full of feelings could touch others.

Focused primarily on sculpture, Lynden Cline has been featured in solo and group exhibitions in many major cities. An active member of various art and community associations, she served as President of the Washington Sculptors Group, and has taught at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design. In addition to making and exhibiting fine art, she developed Creativity Grows On Trees (But Trees Need Strong Roots), a program providing artists and others with strategies, tools, and fundamentals to connect with their creativity. In 2020, Cline founded Artists As Activists, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to distribute provocative art about the social issues of the day to stimulate dialogue, raise consciousness, and advocate change.

Gallery Lobby

Drawn to photography during the isolation of COVID-19, Elle Cee was enthralled by the spontaneity of the medium and the ability to capture familiar objects from unusual perspectives. Cee’s work reflects the brilliant colors and moody darks. These qualities were perfect for capturing the powerful structures of carnival rides, an up-one-day and gone-the-next surprise on the landscape.