NARROWSBURG, NY — The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) will present exhibitions of the work of Mary Sweeney and Traci Johnson from Saturday, August 12 to Sunday, September 17.

The artists’ intimate explorations of corporal forms intertwine through a striking juxtaposition of materials. Johnson's textile sculptures, called Femi rugs, challenge norms with bold hues and abstract patterns, redefining femininity in “Creatures of Desire.” 

In contrast, Mary Sweeney's delicate porcelain and paper works preserve nature's fleeting beauty, offering reflections on transience and permanence in “Gathering.”

The opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 12, beginning with Mary Sweeney’s artist talk at 3 p.m., and followed by Traci Johnson’s talk at 4 p.m.; the reception will continue until 6 p.m. 

DVAA's galleries are open to the public free of charge.

The artists

Mary Sweeney's work centers on replication, simulation and the ability to evoke empathy in the viewer. Organic materials gathered from her garden are essential, as the natural cycles of growth and decay are the core of her work. 

Through a spectrum of mediums, such as porcelain, wax and graphite, the organic matter becomes a frozen moment in time and a meditation on transience and permanence. This preservation process implies a reverence for life and respect for the incredible fragility of peace, humanity and nature. The images she chooses to work with are often a stand-in for the human figure and allude to contemporary social concerns of power and vulnerability. Her intention is to offer a space for reflection and invite the viewer to pause by creating a static moment.

Sweeney conducts experiments using materials gathered from her garden along with porcelain and paper. The ceramic leaf piles are made from thousands of leaves the artist has collected around her home. The dry leaves are coated in porcelain slip. Through this method, she encases the leaf, which is later burned away by the firing process, leaving a ghostly white permanent manifestation of the seasonal leaf. The leaves are thus extracted from the natural cycles of growth and decay.

Mary Sweeney lives and works in Cooks Falls. Her work has appeared in group exhibitions throughout the country, and she has presented solo exhibitions at A.I.R. Gallery in Brooklyn, and the Catskill Art Space in Livingston Manor. 

Traci Johnson specializes in textile design, installation and sculpture. Johnson's "Creatures of Desire" utilize avatars as a means to explore identity and reclaim power. Through textile sculptures and Femi Rugs, the artist characterizes unique and ephemeral expressions of womanhood, each without expectation or definition.

Johnson’s avatars in “Creatures of Desire” then explore a freer authenticity beneath projected or idealized womanhood, using abstract patterns, vibrant hues and unconventional shapes to subvert societal structures built around the feminine form.

The Femi Rugs, which Johnson also refers to as interdisciplinary paintings, become snapshots of their "painter" at that moment in time. Some even serve as portals into the souls and bodies of other women in Johnson’s life.

Traci Johnson was born and raised in Brooklyn, and specializes in textile design, installation and sculpture. Their art emerges from the intersections of mental health, art and fashion as therapeutic subcultures. Johnson creates a safe space for themselves and others within their work, offering a soothing sanctuary. Their deep emotions towards nature and the world are reflected in their art, mirroring the organic flow of nature's beauty. 

Grateful for the ability to express themselves through their art, Traci Johnson will continue to share their inspiring creations with the world.

About the DVAA

The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance is located at 37 Main St., Narrowsburg, NY. Walk-ins are welcome. The galleries are ADA-accessible. 

Summer gallery and shop hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 12 noon to 5 p.m.; and by appointment.

For more information, visit delawarevalleyartsalliance.org or call 845/252-7576.

DVAA gives artists platforms to share their voices in the galleries, on the stages, or at the festivals, including Riverfest in July and the Big Eddy Film Festival held every September. 

The DVAA funds Sullivan County creatives and cultural organizations through its role as the county's arts council.

Support 

DVAA's programs are made possible thanks in part to the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; the Nancy Stevenson Memorial Fund; the Heartland Embers Fund; its business sponsors; DVAA members and individuals.