Photographs taken that later on led her to ask, “Did this really happen?” inspired Filipino-American artist Hanna Pettyjohn to paint. Her past strongly influences her art, touching subjects such as her family in Year of Glad, 2010 and her Texan roots in The American Sweet, 2009.

This June 29, in Few and Far Between at 20SQUARE, Pettyjohn once again journeys in time, taking fragments of her past and translating them to oil paintings of landscapes. Her pieces reflect an impression of an experience unlike her previous shows where she analyzed a thought.

“Fragments of memory are always all that we ever have, the remains of time we spend being alive, understanding, loving, and eventually all that will remain of us as we recognize our transience.” shares Pettyjohn.

Her showpieces are based from photos taken when she was in transit during a recent trip. Dominated by colors blue and brown, the paintings take in basic elements of the earth- sky and land, fusing something as profound as an “emotional memory”.

Her works bring out feelings of nostalgia and wonder. They take the viewer to another place, far from reality. Luckily, we have Pettyjohn to share it with us at present.

Few and Far Between by Hanna Pettyjohn opens June 29, Wednesday, 6-9pm simultaneously with A Token of Our Friendship, Philippine Photos of Male Affection, First Half of the 20th Century curated by John Silva at Silverlens Main and On the Radar: Six New Symptoms curated by Gary-Ross Pastrana featuring Catalina Africa, Dina Gadia, Gail Vicente, Marija Vicente, Ryan Villamael and Maria Jeona at SLab. The three shows will run until July 30.

Words by Jel Tordesillas

Opening Reception: June 29, 2011 (Wed) 6-9pm