Our July exhibit, Dream & Myth, features the works of two outstanding Mifflin County artistsβJoanne Landis and Jim Bright.
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 βnarrative painter.β Her figures, mostly of women, are often meditations on myths and personal experiences. As she puts it, βI strive to create images that convey what it is to be human, alive but still in a dream.β
As she said, βStorytelling 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. Iβm not a realist. My pictures have a dreamlike quality.β
Jim is a sculptor who works in wood, bronze, and stone. He especially likes working in wood because, as he says, βWood has warmth and personality that seems to fit my style and expression.β His sculptures are based on Central Pennsylvaniaβs plants, animals, and people. He doesnβt 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, βWe 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.β
He added, βI 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.β
The exhibit is at Huntingdon County Arts Center, 313 12th Street, Huntingdon, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.
π¨β¨ Kids Summer Art Camps Are Back! β¨π¨ WEEK 5Join the Huntingdon County Arts Council for 5 weeks of creativity and fun this summer! Each week is a unique adventure with a different art theme β perfect for young artists of all skill levels.ποΈ MondayβFriday | 9 AM β 12 PM π΅ $100 per child, per week π Sign up for one week or all five!Spaces fill up fast β register today and let your childβs imagination shine! π Learn more & sign up: huntingdoncountyarts.com/programs/kids-summer-art-camps/π313 12th Street, Huntingdon, PAπ814-643-6220 ... See MoreSee Less
π¨β¨ Kids Summer Art Camps Are Back! β¨π¨ WEEK 4Join the Huntingdon County Arts Council for 5 weeks of creativity and fun this summer! Each week is a unique adventure with a different art theme β perfect for young artists of all skill levels.ποΈ MondayβFriday | 9 AM β 12 PM π΅ $100 per child, per week π Sign up for one week or all five!Spaces fill up fast β register today and let your childβs imagination shine! π Learn more & sign up: huntingdoncountyarts.com/programs/kids-summer-art-camps/π313 12th Street, Huntingdon, PAπ814-643-6220 ... See MoreSee Less