The Irma Freeman Center for Imagination presents Fabrics of Perception, an exhibition featuring artwork by Austin Palmisano, Riley Swatsworth, and Peter Missing. The opening reception will be Friday, January 2, 2025, 6-9 pm. The exhibition closes February 5, 2025. Gallery Hours will be held every Saturday in January, 2-5 PM.
Fabrics of Perception is a multidisciplinary exhibition that bridges the gap between the internal and external worlds. By placing the soft, light-filled observations of the cemetery alongside the dream-like poetry of the subconscious and the raw, rhythmic energy of urban architecture, the show explores how we record our existence.
Whether through the lens of a quiet afternoon in a cemetery garden, the fleeting images of a dream, or the enduring symbols of a cultural movement, these three artists invite the viewer to find inspiration in the layers of time, light, and geometry. This show celebrates the act of “looking”—not just at what is in front of us, but at what lies beneath the surface.
Austin Palmisano, an artist stemming from St. Petersburg, FL, has been painting for years in acrylic paint. The leaning of his art tends to be surrealistic, thematically based on a method of writing stream of consciousness poetry which intrinsically leads to a dream-like quality. He takes inspiration from nature and the transitory state of life, the self, and movement of time.
Riley Swatsworth’s body of work is a series of "plein air" or outdoor paintings taken place in the Alleghany Cemetery in various spots within the area. He painted the view from his spots with the intent to capture the complexity of color and light, and compose it onto his canvas. This kind of practice is difficult, but Riley finds it quite soothing.
Peter Missing was born in Bronx, New York. He has been painting for some years and will be showing his free style works in this exhibition. His influence comes from African, Mayan, Aztec, and street art. His goal in art is only to inspire new generations; to keep the spirit of creativity going into the future. Peter keeps his work positive for the children who view the work. Peter’s band, Missing Foundation, will have their new album titled “Okunoshima” available at the exhibition.
The opening of Fabrics of Perception will be held in conjunction with Penn Avenue’s monthly art crawl, Unblurred First Friday on January 2nd. A