juxtaposition: Works by Melody Ellis, Tania O’Donnell & Kerri Williamson

Show runs from: July 5-August 24
Opening Reception: Friday July 5, 5-7 PM

An exhibit that explores contemporary art's interconnectedness with historical artifacts. In an era where divisiveness is ever present, this theme encourages visitors to find similarities and connections between seemingly unrelated things. The pairings encourage visitors to think about each theme within the exhibit but also pose the question of how this theme is present in their lives. “juxtaposition” features the work of three distinguished artists.

Melody Ellis

I form figures and tiles from richly colored earthenware with layered surfaces. The posture and expression in these pieces are meant to reflect the humor and pathos inherent to living.

My small sculptures are influenced by dolls and movement-based toys from earlier generations. As time passes, the joyful feel of old playthings often turns mysterious or menacing. I hope to animate my figures with these complex qualities.

Narrative craft forms, including Italian majolica and medieval stained glass, inspire the two-dimensional work I create. Fairy tales, puppet theater and the endless wonder of the natural world foster my ideas.

Tania O’Donnell

My drawings and paintings depict animals and humans in moments either before or after an action. An accident has occurred but no one has responded yet. A figure approaches but silence hasn’t been broken.  My hope is that the viewer brings curiosity to the work and posits a narrative of their own that can be true in the moment of looking.

Rabbits and hares feature prominently in my work. For me, they bring to mind responses to unknowns, and the desire to be kept safe and to be comforted. In the wild they are marked by an impulse to freeze or flee, but folktales and stories across the world cast them as clever, brave and even capable of communicating with the dead. I hold these ideas in mind when I create my work.

Kerri Williamson:

I think of my works as illustrations of curiosity. While knowledge constantly forms my decisions, curiosity forms my art. 

My crow series began as a twofold fascination between our human desire to measure other creatures' intelligence based on our own and the visual intensity of the crow: rich black characters that on a gray day remind me of jagged black holes bouncing around the landscape. It can be difficult to discern detail on a crow with its universally black features, and I began to explore their textures and personalities, adding color and personification as I explored. 

My visual comparisons, also born of curiosity, are all invitations for the viewer. I do not want to tell my viewer what to see; I invite you to explore each comparison on your own terms. As I developed my visual comparisons, I was drawn to the Venn diagram as a compositional tool that would invite the viewer to consider both similarities and differences, exploring the richness of each space. 

I love the honesty of works on paper. The paper's absorbency is a challenge, and layering must be decisive, intentional, and graceful. Each illustration is like a meditation in that way.

The show is curated by Karen Grossman, an artist and curator who lives in Delaware County. 

Media Arts Council (MAC) is a registered nonprofit organization with a mission to actively support local artists and integrate a wide range of arts into the life of the community. MAC achieves this mission by providing professional artists with opportunities to exhibit, sell, and/or perform, infusing Media with public art installations, providing arts education classes, and offering community arts events.

For over 128 years, Delaware County Historical Society (DCHS) has been committed to the preservation and protection of Delaware County history and culture. DCHS serves as an archive for the community of Delaware County, and provides resources for educational outreach and historic research. DCHS is located at 408 Avenue of the States, Chester, PA 19013, and appointments can be arranged by emailing outreach@padelcohistory.org. Please visit our website at padelcohistory.org or visit us on Facebook and Instagram @padelcohistory.