Woody Pirtle, world renowned graphic designer and this year's recipient of the American Institute of Graphic Arts Medal, will present "Anxious Objects," a lecture and presentation at the Wildwood Campus of Harrisburg Area Community College. The community is invited to the free lecture in HACC's Rose Lehrman Arts Center auditorium on Thursday, September 25, at 7pm. Pirtle will share his unique process of using found objects as inspiration for his award-winning graphic designs.

Pirtle is a partner at the design firm, Pentagram, in New York City. His work is known worldwide and is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York; the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Neue Sammlung Museum in Munich, the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg, and the Zurich Poster Museum. A book on his work was published in 1999 by China Youth Press. Pirtle has taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York and is a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI). He previously served on the board of HOW magazine and the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA).

"We're fortunate for an opportunity to meet an accomplished artist like Woody Pirtle, whose work is recognized internationally," says Tyler Clever, coordinator for HACC's gallery. "Students studying graphic design and professionals alike can meet with one of the industry's leading designers. Art that we find on packaging and in marketing is widely recognizable and enjoyable for general audiences too, and we invite the community to come to Pirtle's lecture as well."

This October, Pirtle travels to New York City to receive the prestigious American Institute of Graphic Arts Medal. The medal of the AIGA, the most distinguished in the field, is awarded to individuals in recognition of their exceptional achievements, services or other contributions to the field of graphic design and visual communication. Contributions may be in the practice of graphic design, teaching, writing or leadership in the profession that has a significant impact on the practice of graphic design in the United States.

Since 1920 the AIGA Medal has recognized individuals from all over the world who have set standards of excellence over a lifetime of work or have made individual contributions to innovation within the practice of design. Previous AIGA Medal recipients include Milton Glaser, Richard Avedon, Joseph Albers, Paula Scher, Steven Heller, and MTV Networks Online and Nickelodeon Online designer, Fred Seibert.

"Anxious Objects," is a lecture and slide presentation by Woody Pirtle, on Thursday, September 25, at 7pm in the Rose Lehrman Arts Center Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tyler Clever, Gallery Coordinator: 780-2685, or send email at the address below. The Rose Lehrman Arts Center Gallery, currently exhibiting graphic designs from the Charles S. Anderson Design Company of Minneapolis, will open for visitors during the lecture event. # # #