Located on the first floor of Breidenstine Hall, Sykes Gallery has opened a new exhibit featuring artwork by Savannah Schroll Guz, “Into Enchantment.” On view are a variety of Guz’s mixed-media pieces that are influenced by folklore and world-building.
Guz is originally from York, Pa., and has worked in both artistic and literary fields. After graduating from Juniata College, she went on to study at the University of Munich, Germany as a Fulbright Scholar. After working in Germany from 1997 to 1998, she began studying at the University of Pittsburgh upon her return to the United States and received her master’s degree in art history from the institution.
In 2004, she released a collection of short stories, “The Famous & The Anonymous.” Some other notable works by her include “American Soma” and “In the Aftermath,” both works of fiction. Today, most of her creations are visual art, with her work being featured in more than 200 private collections across 15 states. She has illustrated for books and was one of 36 women to participate in Her Flag, a nationwide project celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Guz’s stripe represented the state of West Virginia, where she lived for 20 years. It depicted figures who aided the state in ratification of the 19th amendment, including Dr. Harriet B. Jones, the state’s first licensed woman in medicine, and Ada Enid Haldeman Ford, the first woman to be elected to the Democratic State Executive Committee, who also participated in a variety of social causes.
“Into Enchantment” was described by Guz as a way of showcasing her artwork that “creates a miniature universe that relates a story to viewers.” The references to fables and legends are present throughout many of the exhibit’s pieces. Some examples of this are “The Company of Wolves,” which retells Little Red Riding Hood, and “Jethro & The Mockingbird,” where the mockingbird’s cultural meaning is represented through its role as a spirit guide in the piece. “The Cunning Woman of Franklintown” carries influence from Guz’s Pennsylvania Dutch heritage and the folk healing rituals of Braucherei.
All Sykes Gallery exhibitions are completely free to the public, and “Into Enchantment” will remain on view until Dec. 10. If you want to explore more of Guz’s work, you can find her online at https://www.savannahschrollguzstudios.com/.
