Jody Isaacson, Sue Muskat & Julia Mcgehean

Opening: Sept 8th from 4 to 6pm

Hours: Sundays 1 pm to 5 pm

For an appointment, please contact: pocketutopia@gmail.com

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Pocket Utopia proudly presents Not Goodbye, an exhibition that intertwines the ephemeral with the eternal. Through the works of three artists, Jody Isaacson, Sue Muskat, and Julia McGehean, Not Goodbye explores the delicate balance between presence and absence. On view from September 8 to October 6, Not Goodbye invites visitors into a contemplative space where the boundaries between life, memory, and language blur.

At the heart of this exhibition is the concept of a processional feedback loop—a self-organizing system where spirit, memory, and matter continuously interact. The artists present their works as meditations on the perpetual cycles of existence, where every end is also a beginning, and every mark on the canvas is both a gesture of closure and an opening to new interpretations.

Julia McGehean's "Ants Will Be Here When We're Gone" reimagines the tiny creatures as symbols of resilience and the spirit of self-organization. Upon closer inspection, the red ants, meticulously arranged on a pristine white background, reveal themselves as letters in a cryptic script. These ants represent the inevitability of nature's cycles and the persistence of life even in the face of human absence.

Sue Muskat contributes three works to the exhibition, each exploring different facets of the human experience.  "Always Like This" captures the essence of movement with two fluid, ghostly red shapes that seem to float across the paper. Hand-painted script reading "dance" intertwines with the forms, suggesting a ritualistic celebration and a dialogue between the living and the departed. Muskat's "Cross Your Heart," a graphite and acrylic piece, delves into the power of words and the foundational role of painting in her practice. The use of letters as symbols and the emotive quality of color, particularly the recurring presence of grey, invites viewers to explore the intersection of memory and emotion. Her third piece, "Guard-Disregard," reflects on the gentle and generous human spirit, juxtaposing ideas of vigilance and neglect through a delicate balance of acrylic and graphite on paper. Together, these works underscore Muskat's exploration of the symbolic power of letters, the emotional resonance of colors, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Jody Isaacson’s triptych, "May Sunshine and Gladness Be Given," 2013-2021, offers a deeply personal exploration of memory and connection. Combining a Turkish hand-painted scarf, a tapestry of 365 Turkish cigarette papers, and a Japanese reduction print, Isaacson weaves a letter between her mother and herself. The cigarette papers, delicate and ephemeral, form a visual tapestry that captures the passage of time and the enduring bond between mother and daughter. This work, created over several years, reflects on themes of communication, love, and loss, where every element—each paper, each mark—becomes a part of an intimate dialogue across time and space.

Not Goodbye is a poignant exploration of the traces we leave behind and the conversations we continue to have with those who came before us, giving voice to the unsaid and illuminating the unseen. As with life, art is a continuous process—a series of not goodbyes but perpetual returns.

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More about the artists and Pocket Utopia

Pocket Utopia, founded by Austin Thomas in Brooklyn in 2007, is an artist-run curatorial platform known for its focus on experimental exhibitions and community engagement. Initially established in Bushwick, it has since relocated to Koreatown, NYC, continuing to support innovative art practices and collaborations. The platform has played a significant role in the artist-run space movement, fostering a creative dialogue across different art communities.

Julia McGehean is an accomplished artist who earned her MFA in Painting from Boston University in 2024, following her BFA in Sculpture and Painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2018. Her work has been exhibited in Boston and Philadelphia and, most recently, at Morgan Lehman Gallery in New York. Julia has been recognized with the prestigious Golden Star Award from Harvard University for her contributions to the art world. Her multidisciplinary practice explores the history and implications of the alphabet through drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and photography, often encoding the invisible effects of dyslexia into her text-based works. In addition to her studio practice, Julia teaches and curates, continually engaging with the intersection of language, literacy, and visual art.

Sue Muskat is based in the Berkshires and is known for exploring iconic imagery and historical artifacts in her work. She has exhibited at notable venues, including Bernay Fine Art, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Sotheby's New York, and recently at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, MA, as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Shakers' arrival in America. Muskat's career has been marked by a commitment to learning, which included a formative trip to Italy to study art, architecture, and design. Her time in New Haven, CT, allowed her to engage deeply with the Yale University Art Gallery, particularly the Assyrian gypsum alabaster panels and Egyptian Hieroglyphics. She was also influenced by the writings of Josef Albers in the Yale University Library, which helped her understand his color theory. Muskat's work reflects a fascination with both macro and micro designs found in nature, blending her knowledge of historical and cultural symbols with contemporary artistic practices.

Jody Isaacson is an artist, educator, and executor of the David Byrd Estate, and is based in upstate New York. She holds an M.F.A. from the California College of the Arts and a B.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin. Isaacson has taught at various institutions, including Montgomery College of Art and Design, Lord Fairfax Community College, the University of Maryland, and Cornish College of the Arts. Her work has been exhibited at venues such as the Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, and the Nevada Museum of Art. She has received awards and grants from the Maryland State Arts Council and the NEA/Westaf Visual Arts Fellowship, among others. Her art is part of collections like Microsoft Corporation and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Her recent exhibition, "Absence of Presence," reflects her interest in nature and the themes of presence and absence.

Shayan Nazarian is a Brooklyn-based Iranian painter and a director at Pocket Utopia Gallery, with an MFA from Boston University. His work spans painting, sculpture, video, and photography, influenced by psychoanalysis, German philosophy, and socio-political conditions.

Deric Ott, originally from Florida, is the Program Intern at Pocket Utopia. This fall, he will start his studies in New York City while contributing to the gallery's social media presence. As the Director of Programming, Deric plays a key role in the gallery's operations, contributing to various projects and supporting the gallery’s initiatives.

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