Changnon Chronicles

Michael J. Changnon was an influential professor at Slippery Rock university. Changnon was hired shortly after graduate school by Martha Gault, the first art chair at SRU, to teach photography and found the photography program at SRU. Throughout his years of being an artist, Changnon created different metaphors with his work depending on the era of his life. Each charcoal drawing is a representation of him and his moods. After 34 years of working as a professor at SRU, Changnon died at the age of 58. Thankfully his memory has not been forgotten. The Michael J. Changnon Memorial Art Scholarship in Photography was created for SRU students shortly after his death. His work is displayed in the Westmoreland Museum of Art, Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital, Pittsburgh Public Schools and Heinz History Center. From February to March, SRU held an exhibit in the Martha Gault Gallery in remembrance of the 20-year anniversary of Changnon’s passing. His wife Susan Changnon was given the opportunity to give a speech in memory of her late husband.

I have created a timeline depicting Michael J. Changnons life as an artist and how SRU is remembering him. https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1O-QBMBXR1-EsT4GrUJymodpNhnEBuEdYxXApzPKJ8RA&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650