04/21/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/21/2025 14:06
The Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University will close its season with Family Tree, a show that brings together the work of four sisters to look at a common subject in a variety of unique and beautiful ways.
"We have a family reunion in the Sordoni," says Heather Sincavage, gallery director, of the exhibit which features the mixed media pieces of elin o'Hara slavick, Madeline Slavick, Sarah Slavick and Susanne Slavick.
For this reunion, guests don't need an invite or any special knowledge. As always, the gallery is open to all, whether a visitor is an art connoisseur or a newcomer. "I think this is a step in," says Melissa Carestia, SAG's assistant director. "People can see beautiful pictures of trees and learn what the artists' intentions are with them, have the visual literacy to understand what the artist is conveying and take that knowledge and apply it to other artwork."
Family Tree also offers plenty for more seasoned art lovers, treating them to more traditional media like oil on canvas, as well as innovative solarized silver gelatin prints and inkjet prints. "There are so many ways to take a subject matter and use it as a mode of understanding our humanity," said Sincavage.
The exhibit opens with an Art in Context gallery talk with Susanne Slavick at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, followed by an opening night reception. SAG will host younger art fans at noon on Saturday, May 10, for Second Saturday Family Hour where kids can design their own family trees. The show closes with a Last Look brunch and gallery tour led by Sincavage from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 1.
While SAG goes dark for the summer to accommodate some planned maintenance, the gallery team won't be slowing down. They have a monthly summer film series planned featuring outdoor screenings of art house films. They'll be at the Fine Arts Fiesta in May, PrideFest in June, and the Farmers Market from mid-June through mid-August. SAG will also host Family Day featuring crafts and activities for all ages on Saturday, Aug. 9.
Whether they're doing chalk drawings with kids from the community or offering tours of the latest exhibit, the Sordoni Art Gallery staff participates in art every day. They hope the public will see the forest through the trees and realize that they do, too.
"The things they love about their favorite Marvel movie, they can find those same things in a painting," says Carestia. "Family Tree is a good beginner show. This might be a good way to branch out and do something new, because that's what we're all about."
Sordoni Art Gallery Hours:
Tuesday-Friday | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday | Noon to 5 p.m.
The gallery is closed on Mondays and during University holidays.
All events are free and open to the public. Reservations are required for the Last Look brunch. Please RSVP to melissa.carestia@wilkes.edu.
For more information, visit wilkes.edu/sordoniartgallery.