Dream & Myth Exhibit Open

The opening reception was on Friday, July 14, at 6 p.m.; the show will continue through August 12.

These two artists have been exhibiting their work together for the last 20 years. What ties them together is their shared interest in storytelling.

Joanne Landis studied art at the Parsons School of Design in New York and worked as a fashion illustrator for 20 years before turning to painting. She works exclusively with the human figure and describes herself as a “narrative painter.” Her figures, mostly of women, are often meditations on myths and personal experiences. As she puts it, “I strive to create images that convey what it is to be human, alive but still in a dream.”

As she said, “Storytelling is very much a part of my work. It is figurative, expressionistic, and narrative. My creations are very personal by the time I finish. I inhabit the pictures. I’m not a realist. My pictures have a dreamlike quality.”

Jim is a sculptor who works in wood, bronze, and stone. He especially likes working in wood because, as he says, “Wood has warmth and personality that seems to fit my style and expression.” His sculptures are based on Central Pennsylvania’s plants, animals, and people. He doesn’t try to represent the world literally, however. Instead, he simplifies, distorts, and otherwise alters his subjects, choosing to interpret rather than report what he sees.

After studying art education, fine arts, and sculpture at Penn State and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Jim Bright worked with other artists at the Creative Art Studios in Lucca, Italy. He then returned to the United States and began teaching art to high school students in Lewistown. He has taught adult sculpture classes at the Art Alliance in State College and works daily in his studio.

As Jim said, “We both tell stories in our work, but neither tells the whole story. We want to start the story and lead viewers to engage with the work and finish the story in their own way, based on their own experiences.”

He added, “I hope that people who view my sculptures will feel some of the wonder and curiosity that I bring to the sculptural process. I want to engage my viewers in a dialog without dominating that conversation.”

The exhibit is at Huntingdon County Arts Center, 313 12th Street, Huntingdon, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.

The exhibit and opening reception are free.