For the next two months in the HUB-Robeson Gallery, everything will be black and white when artists show their work during a show titled Forms in Black and White.

"The show is almost three years in the making," said Pasquale Cortese, one of the artists exhibiting his work in the exhibit.

Ann Shields, event manager, approached Cortese in 2000 about showing his works at the Penn State galleries in the future.

"It was Ann that pretty much set me in motion as an artist," Cortese said. "I went from just a few pieces to now about 80."

Cortese uses only black pen for his designs, which he uses to create optical illusions.

"It takes me about thirty hours to create each piece," Cortese said.

One extra-large piece in the show by Cortese took him more than 200 hours over a period of seven months to complete.

"I don't think I'd ever take on a project that large again," Cortese said.

Cortese is a self-taught artist who currently resides in State College.

He has been using black pen as a medium for the past nine years and said he is extremely excited about having his work displayed for students at Penn State.

"I hope that I inspire someone to dream and achieve something," he said.

Cortese said he tried to use other colors in his work but decided that basic black and white was best for his craft.

The second artist on display in Forms in Black and White is Grace Pilato, who is exhibiting her most recent ceramic works.

HUB Gallery coordinator Carol Brooks said she is very interested in Pilato's new works.

"Her work has changed into something more experimental," Brooks said.

Pilato has taught pottery for over 25 years in State College, and this current show is one of many for her at Penn State.

This time, however, she is also using black and white to show off her style of art.

"I just love how light plays with black and white," Pilato said. "You can walk around a piece in black and white, and the light will change the piece as you walk."

Brooks said Pilato also used more porcelain for this collection, and it's creating interesting work.

Neither artist is upset about having to share the limelight with another artist.

"I think our art compliments each other very well," Cortese said.

Pilato added that she thinks the same way.

"I didn't know what it would look like at first, but I'm very happy with the way it turned out," she said.

The HUB-Robeson Gallery is located on the first floor of the HUB-Robeson Center. Forms in Black and White is open for all until March 16.