Photographs of the Beta Theta Pi members, old and new, looked on as local artists added art of their own to the newly remodeled fraternity house.

The Art Alliance of Central PA held it's annual fundraiser Sunday evening at the Beta Theta Pi house, located at 220 N. Burrowes Road. The event is held each year to raise money for the Art Alliance and to bring its members together.

For this specific fundraiser, the alliance held an art relay. Artists began a painting at a designated station. They then moved on and rotated to 10 other stations while adding to the paintings that were started by other artists. The artists eventually ended up at their original paintings to finish them however they liked.

The Beta Theta Pi house, which was built in 1929, recently underwent a $7 million renovation. The house currently has no student residents since the chapter's disbanding in February 2009 after initially being suspended for allegations of party violations and hazing.

At the fundraiser, the house was used as inspiration for all paintings displayed at the art show. Most of the paintings were of the house itself and of its inside features including the fireplace and stained-glass windows.

"It's neat to use it for its grandeur," William Snyder, 29 of State College, said about the house while adding onto a painting of the outdoor porch. "It's a shame that the students didn't understand the responsibility to maintain it."

Attendees of the art show were able to watch the artists paint and enjoy a catering service as well as a live band.

"There's a great jazz band, the food is nice, the day is spectacular," said Mark Messenger. Messenger, a Centre Hall resident, is an Art Alliance member and a sculpturist. He wished that he could have been one of the artists to participate in the art relay, but his schedule was too full to have time to participate.

The Art Alliance of Central PA began in 1968, a year after the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts began, because artists decided that an organized group of artists was necessary all year rather than just for the weekend of Arts Festival. The alliance has since gained about 400 members, which includes artists and art supporters from around Pennsylvania.

"It's part of the community, but it's now part of the campus community," Elizabeth Kirchner, 81 of State College, said about the Art Alliance's choice to have the venue so close to Penn State's campus.

Marie Doll, a State College resident, was really excited about the art show. Doll, the executive director of the Art Alliance, said the house was the perfect setting for the art show and was anxious to get artists to paint at the house and to use it as inspiration.

"The architecture and the history of the house makes it an art treasure in itself," Doll said.