A 1970 painting by Louis S. Mohollen, dedicated to former teacher and principal, Florence A. Pfoertsch. This is the second painting of Mr. Mohollen’s that the District has in its collection that is dedicated to Ms. Pfoertsch.
Every year, Abington School District hosts its annual Abington Art Fest, an exhibition of student artwork, held in the gymnasium of the Administration Building. More than 750 works of art made entirely by students of all grade levels are on display, and the event also showcases performances from music students and teachers. This year, however, there will be a new feature to Art Fest with a special exhibit dedicated to “artists in residence,” inspired by former art teacher of 30 years, Louis S. Mohollen.
Mr. Mohollen started his career as an elementary art teacher at Glenside Weldon in 1961, teaching fourth, then fifth, grade. Before his retirement in 1992, he taught in numerous schools and in a variety of roles, ranging from being a special education teacher at Rydal Elementary School in the early 1980s, to a fifth-grade teacher at Overlook Elementary School and a gifted program itinerant at the elementary level in the later part of the decade. Mr. Mohollen also spent eight years as the Supervisor of Art.
Throughout his life, however, like many of Abington School District’s art teachers, Mr. Mohollen spent his time outside of school as a talented and accomplished artist. He achieved local notoriety as a painter, frequently creating impressionistic oil paintings. He was passionate about exploring the rhythms of nature, and his artwork often focused on landscapes, seascapes, and still-lives. Mr. Mohollen not only created works of art, but he also actively exhibited his work in local galleries. In 1982, he had an exhibition in Cape May at the Huntington House and in 1987, he exhibited work entitled “Summer Revisited” at the Clivden Carriage House. Mr. Mohollen’s works of art are also in permanent collections in the United States and in Europe.
In addition, Mr. Mohollen spent time studying painting with Hobson Pittman and furthered his skill by completing his graduate work at Penn State University and Tyler Art School, Temple University.
Although it has been more than a decade since Mr. Mohollen’s passing and nearly 30 years since his retirement, the legacy of this longtime art teacher continues to live on in Abington through his paintings, four of which are housed throughout the Administration Building. For the first time ever, this artwork from Mr. Mohollen will hang side-by-side at Art Fest for attendees to enjoy all in one place. The paintings had been donated to the District over the decades, including from alumni or friends/family of Mr. Mohollen who had passed away and whose families wanted to ensure the paintings made it to a good home. Students assisted in bringing Mr. Mohollen’s artworks together for the first time by researching him as an educator and as an artist for a biography that will be displayed alongside this exhibit.
Abington Art Fest runs Tuesday, March 19 through Thursday, March 21, 2019, from 1:30–7:30 p.m. in the Administration Building gymnasium.