A young curator and 11 young artists have explored the bittersweet theme of nostalgia in “Joy Takes Time,” an exhibition on display through March 10 in Seton Hill University’s Harlan Gallery.
During a Feb. 6 opening reception in the downtown Greensburg art center, curator Emma Vescio of Pittsburgh said the show was inspired by some difficult challenges she faced in 2019.
“With ‘Joy Takes Time,’ I am hoping to address the abundance of feelings one experiences with loss and the continual attempt to repair what has happened in the past,” her curator statement says. “With each artist in this show, I hope to establish different senses of nostalgia and the emotions of bittersweetness.”
“I wanted to capture how you grow as time passes, how you can look back and understand the weight of what has happened to you,” Vescio said at the opening.
Sharing their visions are artists from around the region, including Mairead Dambruch, Roxy Jamin, Soren Lundi, Heather Rich, Sydney Joslin-Knapp, Naomi Chambers, Clelia Knox, Jameelah Platt, Camden Yandel, Caldwell Linker and Melaney Mitchell.
Pieces in various media include depictions of “Sesame Street’s” Bert and Ernie and the Little Debbie of snack fame, along with personal interpretations that Vescio says “remember who we were, question who we want to become, and acknowledge the joy we are able to experience.”
Seen at the reception: Kiersten Rich, Monica Rich, Katarina Russell, Kacey Murphy, Victoria Michaels, Leah Bisko, gallery director Todd Keyser and Seton Hill faculty members Patti Ghubril, Brian Farrell and Pati Beachley.
