in the downstairs G.b. Stuart Gallery

In a different light

Our current exhibit In A Different Light combines abstract paintings by Jill Peckelun and photographs by Louise Thomas in a deliberate balance of color and black and white. Both artists, however, harness light and stillness to recreate moments in time.

Jill Peckelun creates scenic and domestic vignettes with shifting, textured brush strokes and bursting colors. Her palette is bright even when she depicts the dark. She captures light the same as a photo, letting it emanate and glow. Though her style is abstract, you can see every detail of these vast landscapes through her studied shaping and coloring. Peckelun’s dexterity with brushes/painter’s knives and manipulation of her medium (oil paint with cold wax) provides a never-ending collection of shapes and textures that amplify her playfulness with light and shadows.

Louise Thomas uses different methods to evoke the same results. Her black and white photography is focused and calm. It’s evident how much time was spent anticipating the perfect moment to be captured. She allows the nature she documents to remain in its element, wild yet still. Fog, long exposures, and intentional camera movement meld to create a nostalgic filter that encapsulates the light in Thomas’ photos. Her perspective and composition are expansive, allowing you to imagine where the photo continues past the frame.

In both Peckelun and Thomas’ works, you can often find small areas of delight that add to the depth of field like foxes, rabbits, birds, and people. Both artists are intent on creating in their chosen settings, existing within the scenery and subject matter rather than working in a studio. That is part of the allure and authenticity to these collections. Like magic, both Peckelun and Thomas freeze time and suspend us in their memories.

Written by Rachel Haas-Gutin

In the upstairs gallery

Perspectives

What do we miss by rushing through life? 

Maybe in our haste to get things done, to progress, we are just distracting ourselves. If we only focus on what's to come, we can't see or enjoy the beauty in front of us. We may think we are being proactive by planning ahead, working harder now to reap the benefits later, but then what does that make of today? Is it just a placeholder for something better, or an inconvenience of time that we try to skip past? This is what troubles Dr. Eliseo Rosario, and here is his remedy.

Perspectives is a collection of Rosario’s photography that explores the parts of life that are overlooked or completely dismissed. He considers himself a “diligent tour guide”, enlightening us to the small, spectacular things we may have never noticed. This exhibit is split into three categories: Harrisburg cityscapes, flora, and fauna. Rosario ventures out and captures striking photos of animals like foxes, birds, and frogs in their most natural states. He utilizes macro photography to hone in on the little details of our world, instilling awe in his works and prompting us to see something new for the first time. He spots the significance of a bee harvesting nectar from a flower, or the sun shining through tree branches as it sets. The ordinary is proudly represented through Rosario’s photography as anything but. A keen eye is always necessary for photography, but not only in regards to composition, aperture, focus, and other technical skills. A great photographer can see what others don’t and surprise people with their perspective. Eliseo Rosario is a technically skilled photographer, but more importantly he discovers the subject matter others wouldn’t.

Written by Rachel Haas-Gutin