Northwestern College’s Te Paske Gallery features exhibit by retired professor

Northwestern College is opening its 2026–27 art exhibit season with “Prospective,” a collection of mixed media pieces by recently retired art professor Phil Scorza, on display at Te Paske Gallery through Oct. 16. A public reception scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. will include a gallery talk by the artist as well as a question-and-answer period.

The solo exhibition features large-scale and multi-paneled pieces created from vintage photographs using a process called pigment transfer. The technique allows Scorza to transfer the original image to a new surface, adding depth and meaning with colored pencils, paint and other materials.

“My work captures a sense of longing and a bit of nostalgia. These emotions feel poignant for introspective reflection and yet fitting for a moment of transition,” says Scorza, referencing the future orientation of the show’s title.

Scorza, who retired in May after more than 20 years on the faculty of Northwestern’s  art and design department, taught graphic and digital design. He developed Northwestern’s  graphic design major and helped expand the department from a single fine arts program to four distinct majors.

Art department chair  Meghan Charbonneau welcomes the opportunity to host a show of this caliber. “These are captivating pieces made with exceptional artistic skill—bold and striking from a distance, yet with details and expressive line work that compels the viewer forward for a closer look,” she says. “Of course, Scorza’s creative process is just as fascinating as the pieces themselves.”

Northwestern’s Te Paske Gallery is located in the Korver Visual Arts Center on Highway 10 at 214 8th Street SW in Orange City. Gallery hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.