Sat 6/15 @ 3-6PM
Young people are often focused on the immediate present and don’t become interested in their ancestry until later in life — when those who could share information are gone.
Luckily, Gwen Putz, who’ll be a senior in printmaking at the Cleveland Institute of Art in the fall, became interested in her background early, and it’s the driving force behind her solo exhibition Seeking Sisu: From Finland, with Love, taking place at Fairport Harbor’s the Finnish Heritage Museum.
Using a variety of printmaking processes, including lithography and monotype, Putz looks at her ancestors challenging experiences in the Karelia region, currently divided between Finland and Russia, during the conflict between those two countries in the 1940s, when a population of hundreds of thousands of people was forced to relocate several times. explores issues such as migration and refugeeism.
“Though my family was faced with hardship and displacement, they remained resilient,” says Putz. “The bravery my Iso Mummi [great-grandmother] Lulu showed during this time is something that I will always look up to and do my best to honor. I will never truly understand the weight of their decisions, but I will always carry their sacrifices and inspiring stories with me.”
She was also inspired by the museum and its permanent collection, as well as conversations with members.
“In the act of transcribing and transforming photographs onto lithography stones, I am not only trying to connect with my family’s history but also share this little-known history with others,” she says. “Acknowledging the pain and displacement war causes serves as an example for why it is important to remember our histories.”
The show opens with a free, public reception Saturday June 15 @ 3-6pm, with Putz giving a short presentation at 3:30. It will remain on view through June 22.