Tioga Arts Council and Cloud Croft Studios presents IF YOU KEEP A STAR IN A CAGE, an immersive art experience by Jess Petrylak. The installation begins on its Opening Night on First Friday, June 6, from 8 - 10 PM.
IF YOU KEEP A STAR IN A CAGE is an immersive blend of visual art, live performance, poetry and music, unraveling the complexities of fame, control, and identity in the digital age. Examining the tension between adoration and captivity, audiences will be confronted with echoes of pop culture’s most scrutinized figures–women who were worshiped, devoured and discarded in real time. Through an empathetic lens, this work seeks to humanize these icons, challenging viewers to see beyond the headlines. This is not about nostalgia; it’s about survival and redemption.
From June 6 – 29, 2025, visit Cloud Croft Studios – Barn and Schoolhouse, 1003 Sanford Rd., Owego to for this immersive art experience. Additional special events during the event are listed below.
ABOUT JESS PETRYLAK
Jess Petrylak (b. 1995) is a multi-disciplinary artist working in installation, poetry and mixed media. She holds a BFA in Painting and Drawing from Purchase College and an AS in Visual Communications from SUNY Broome. Using found objects, gel pens, nail polish, rhinestones, glitter, and river water, she transforms overlooked materials into layered tactile expressions. Petrylak lives and works in upstate New York.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Jess Petrylak explores the cultural landscape of the early aughts, focusing on the complex interplay between fame, identity and personal grief. Drawing inspiration from iconic figures like Britney Spears, her work delves into themes of feminine martyrdom, mysticism, and ritual, capturing the tension between public persona and private struggle. By portraying these elements through a refined aesthetic, she aims to illuminate the hidden dimensions of fame and its impact on personal identity, blending glamour with a profound exploration of resilience and transformation.
As part of the IF YOU KEEP A STAR IN A CAGE installation and immersive experience by Jess Petrylak, the Artist will offer a FREE generative poetry workshop and reading designed to explore the intersection of personal identity and celebrity culture, using writing as a means of processing collective memory and the societal obsession with fame. Prompts include: Tabloid Erasure Poems, Digital Diary Entries, and a Selfie Sonnet/Mirro Poem. Pink fuzzy pens, hand mirrors, and tabloids provided.
DATE & TIME: Wednedsay, June 11, from 6 - 7:30 PM
LOCATION: Cloud Croft Studios - Schoolhouse, 1003 Sanford Rd., Owego.
REGISTRATION: This event is FREE but registration is required. Sign up at: https://forms.gle/Ygf4WMcHM6t2nJVr9