SculptureX (sculpture exchange) is a teaching and networking platform founded in 2010 to catalyze collaborations among educational and art institutions in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, western New York and western Pennsylvania and Ontario.

SculptureX (SX) was envisioned in 2009 when CIVITAS social sculptor, Erie, PA resident and Edinboro University professor Lisa Austin reached out to the executive directors of the Erie Art Museum, John Vanco, and Cleveland’s The Sculpture Center, Ann Albano.

Albano contacted CIA faculty (Cleveland Institute of Art) and, at the suggestion of CIA’s Saul Ostrow, a SX symposium was organized at CIA in 2010 with Ostrow and his colleagues Lane Cooper and Charles Tucker with assistance from Albano, Austin and Edinboro University art professor, Dietrich Wegner. SX’s free (or low cost) yearly gatherings are a key feature of SX.

Most years professional and student level juried SX exhibits are held. In 2010, Albano led the effort to create two simultaneous, SX exhibitions presented in Cleveland and Erie juried by David Carrier. (catalog) Beyond the symposia and exhibitions, SX was fosters an “exchange” of faculty expertise in design, art education, art history, criticism and curatorial practice between regional institutions through visiting speakers, workshops, exhibitions and other events.

SCULPTURE X SYMPOSIA

2010 - The State of Sculpture - Jeanne Silverthorne, organized by Cleveland Institute of Art, OHIO, with assistance from Edinboro University

2011 - The State of the MFA - Ann Hamilton, organized by Cleveland Institute of Art, OHIO, with assistance from Edinboro University

2012 - The State of Expanded Media - Mel Chin, Cleveland Institute of Art, OHIO

2013 - Performative Objects and the Everyday Spectacular - Martin Kersels, Columbus College of Art & Design, OHIO

2014 - Social Political Objects - Sharon Hayes, Columbus College of Art & Design, OHIO

2015 - Value Added - Sheila Pepe, organized by Green James Person Duffy Dept. of Art and Art History at Wayne State University assisted by Frostic School of Art, Western Michigan University, the Penny Stamps School of Art and Design, University of Michigan, and the Cranbrook Academy of Art, MICHIGAN

2016 SX: Past, Present, Future - panel discussion by Edinboro University faculty and students at the International Sculpture Conference, Pittsburgh, PENNSYLVANIA

2017 - Value Added - John Douglas Powers and Tom Williams, organized by Green James Person Duffy Dept. of Art and Art History at Wayne State University assisted by Frostic School of Art, Western Michigan University, the Penny Stamps School of Art and Design, University of Michigan, MICHIGAN

2018 - Igniting Change - keynotes Mel Chin and Mary Jo Reynolds, co-organized by Bowling Green State University, Contemporary Art Toledo, Owens Community College, Toledo Museum of Art, University of Toledo, OHIO

2019 - Material/Immaterial - keynotes John Balistreri, Jane Bruce, William Corwin and Catie Newell, co-organized by Bowling Green State University, University of Toledo, Contemporary Arts Toledo, OHIO

2020 - Art & Agency - keynotes Sohelia Azadi and Madeline Schwartzman, co-organized by Allegheny College, Chatham University, CIVITAS, Edinboro University, Seton Hill University, Slippery Rock University, The Sculpture Center and the University of Pittsburgh VIRTUALLY!

2021 - Mini SX February 5, 2021 and Art & Agency 2 in September- keynotes To Be Announced, co-organized by Allegheny College, Chatham University, CIVITAS, Edinboro University, Seton Hill University, Slippery Rock University, The Sculpture Center and the University of Pittsburgh and to be held in Greensburg and Pittsburgh PENNSYLVANIA