An eye-catching sculpture exhibit that expresses poignant commentary on endangered species is on display in Pattee Library.

Beasties: Endangered Imagination by Susan Harter will be on display until April 19 in the East Pattee Corridor.

The exhibit uses familiar animals in strange poses, many times expressing critical views of society. For example, "Smitten" is a sculpture of an antelope with an arrow through its neck. There is also a whale set in a tank on sand that is cynically labeled "Beached Whale".

"I try to make a statement how man affects his environment, and the different creatures that are in the environment," said Harter, a ceramics and jewelry-making teacher in the State College Area School District.

Sue Dudash (junior-French) said, "the one with the arrow is pretty awful, but it kind of makes you think." She said she would rather have this on her wall than an actual antelope head.

This use of art work in place of actual game is one of the artist's main points. Harter said she can make her own non-violent trophies. "I reach the same goal without having to kill anything."

She also adds a sense of humor to her work to get people to think about these issues. After observing her "Goat's Head Soup" and "William Told" sculptures, one can not help but to smile at the puns she created. "William Told" is a sculpture of an animal with an apple in his mouth.

"I am pushing the sarcasm to the point where it's not funny," she said.

"Deer Hunter" is a deer dressed up like a hunter. It is wearing a bright orange camouflage hunter's outfit with sunglasses.

This and other sculptures were influenced by her husband's hunting excursions and the idea of him returning home with a carcass tied to the roof of the car.

"It's gruesome," she said. "They're statements that relate to me and how I perceive wildlife affected by man."

Jeff Michlik (senior-administration of justice), a frequent observer of East Pattee art exhibits, said this display is different and more unique than past art forms shown here.

Harter, who received a degree in ceramics from Penn State, said the next series she will be working on is extinct or fantasy animals. Her work may be on display during the Arts Festival, and she may also pursue Kern Galleries as a place for her next exhibit.

"It seems in this day and age things have to be overly sensationalized for us to take notice," Harter said.