SUNY JCC Presents “Elena Thomas: Full Circle” Exhibition

SUNY JCC Presents “Elena Thomas: Full Circle” Exhibition
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
By Heather Gregory

SUNY Jamestown Community College has opened the first solo exhibition of an international artist to the public on the Jamestown Campus in the Weeks Gallery. Set to run the majority of Women’s History Month, “Elena Thomas: Full Circle,” is a well-timed study of drawings, watercolor, textile and fabric arts, sometimes woven into installation pieces or combined with her own musical works that speak to the human experience through the eyes of a woman. A collage of different art pieces.

A resident of the U.K., Thomas' work spans 15 years of her unique practice. A reception and artist’s talk with Thomas is planned for 6-8 p.m. March 23 in the Weeks Gallery, located on the second floor of the Sheldon Center.

The exhibition is framed as a guided tour of her train of thought, as it meanders through her own interpersonal connections, or those of others that she has observed over time. Thomas is increasingly interested in the way political issues affect those relationships, and is currently creating an exhibition of works concerning child poverty.

Thomas has a masters degree in Arts Practice and Education from Birmingham City University’s School of Art, U.K. She is an associate of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and her visual works, sound, and performances have been seen across the U.K., in the U.S., and Sweden.

“Elena’s work poses some interesting questions,” Colin Shaffer, managing director of galleries for JCC, shared. “As you walk through the exhibit, you can imagine how positive or negative intention can change the feeling of a piece, without the piece itself changing at all.”

Those interested in clothing, sewing, and embroidery are sure to notice how Thomas uses these techniques to make statements on topics such as child poverty, gender, and identity. Textile pieces are surrounded by drawings and watercolor works that balance softness with a sense of movement and flow.

The exhibit is curated by Debra Eck, visiting curator at JCC, and runs from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday through March 24. 

“Elena’s work is intriguing for the way the artist’s voice speaks clearly through a wide range of media, and for the way it subtly addresses the ambiguity of the human experience,” Eck said. 

For more information, visit sunyjcc.edu/weeksgallery.