Artspace Gallery in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, has announced the opening of 'Dissonance,' an exhibition featuring works by member artist Jermaine Johnson. The show is dedicated to his late mother, Tanya, who passed away in 2023. Johnson, an oil painter, wire weaver, and fiber artist educated at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, presents pieces that explore themes of media, spirituality, race, history, and popular culture through unsettling imagery like scrambled vintage television test patterns. A public reception will be held on Saturday at 4 p.m., where the artist will discuss his work.
The exhibition matters because it highlights the role of local cooperative galleries in supporting regional artists and fostering community engagement with contemporary art. Artspace Gallery, one of the region's oldest fine art and craft galleries, has operated for over 20 years, providing a platform for original works by local creators. 'Dissonance' exemplifies how small galleries can present conceptually rich, personal work that addresses complex social and historical themes, offering audiences an opportunity to engage with art that challenges and provokes thought.