Juniata College’s Museum Studies Practicum students have created a beautifully warm and inviting setting for the Souls Shot Portrait Project’s Pennsylvania exhibition at Juniata College Museum of Art on the campus.
On October 9, at an Artist Talk and Gallery Walk, participating artist Anni Matsick described her thought process in developing her painting In the Language of Flowers, Portrait of Jerron E. Lewis, and what led to her choosing hyacinths as a tribute. A remarkable side note was that the subject’s grandmother, Joy Lewis, later told Anni she had long had purple hyacinths growing in her yard.
Anni read her statement from the exhibition catalog: “Jerron’s mother Yolonda described him as an accomplished athlete, signified here by the hyacinths. For Victorians it was a symbol of sporting activities, indicating sport or play, and thus a fitting tribute. My reference was a posed selfie of a confident and stylish young man presenting himself as he wanted to be seen, and now, lovingly remembered.”
Attendees listened rapt as the artist spoke about her work and another painting by Donna Berk Barlup, King David, Portrait of David Henry. She had met the subject’s mother, Jody Henry, and his cousin, Shanna Williams, at a breakfast held during the show’s opening run at Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg. David died while protecting his grandmother during a home invasion on a block near where they stood in the museum’s gallery. The pair moved on that morning to participate in the March For Our Lives anti-gun violence rally on the Capitol building steps. The audience appreciated these inside glimpses of family members, who bear their grief with dignity and grace.
Among those present were members of PAX-O, a club on campus focused on peace and advocacy issues, run by the museum’s director, Kathryn Blake.
The exhibition is on display through November 16, 2023. Check the website for program updates. It is always FREE to visit this “small museum exploring big ideas.”
JCMA Hours: Mon-Thu 1-8pm; Sat 12-4pm; closed Fri, Sun, and campus holidays.
