Dan Miller and Bruce Samuelson of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts were honored last week for their significant work— both creatively and academically— in the academy.
The PAFA held an opening reception for what will be an exhibition lasting just over a month, from Feb 21 to April 6. Both Miller and Samuelson have engaged in teaching the undergraduate and graduate programs of the Academy in addition to designing and producing art in various mediums, such as painting, woodwork, sculpture, and printmaking.
Since their graduation from the academy in 1959 and 1969, respectively, both Miller and Samuelson have played an integral part in the PAFA community.
Samuelson has taught painting and drawing classes at PAFA since 1973, while Miller has been an instructor of art history, painting, and printmaking classes since 1964.
Miller has had 71 personal exhibitions for printmaking and sculpture, while Samuelson has had over thirty showcasing his paintings and drawings. Samuelson is also featured in many private collections, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Philip of Muriel Berman Museum of Art.
Dan Martinson, chair of the faculty committee, spoke at the opening reception, detailing his experiences with both artists and giving them praise for their talents. Martinson, who has worked with both gentlemen, shares his respect for Samuelson: “I was lucky enough to be in one of the first classes that Bruce taught… he was really energizing.”
Samuelson was always someone who spoke up and was able to form connections with other artists, something Martinson respected greatly. Martinson always regarded Miller with admiration, expressing his gratitude for his constant positivity and energy in the studio and classroom.
Miller and Samuelson created experiences for their students in an “environment that is just so beautiful and artistic” and urged their students to think creatively and outside of the box, similar to how the two artists think themselves.
They fostered a culture of acceptance and welcoming unique perspectives from their students, allowing contrasting creations to come forth and express their ideas through art. Lydia Hamilton Brown, the president of the alumni council, also was present at the reception.
Brown studied at PAFA and received her certificate in 1973, her postbaccalaureate in 2014, and her MFA in 2016. However, before all of that, Brown was a student in Miller’s painting class in 1970.
Brown quickly fell in love with the embracing air in the classroom and how Miller led critiques with love and not disapproval: “I always thought Dan was so refined and gentle with his critiques.” Brown was assured within herself enough to continue to pursue higher education and work toward additional art degrees.
Their absence is heavily missed by those who have worked with or learned under Miller and Samuelson; Change is constant but is not easy.
“It is different, but it is the same. We have the same energy, influence, and faculty and teachers. It’s not the academy is changing so much; it’s just different, and it will move on to be different.”
Miller and Samuelson have become the exhibit, which was meant to display the final works of Miller and Samuelson before their exit from the teaching realm and out of PAFA. The exhibit is free to anybody who wishes to visit and is located on the second level of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
