Why Am I Sad by Dana Stirling & Formal/Informal: Innovations in Portraiture | Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre
Tuesday, March 24 – Friday, May 15, 2026 | Tues–Fri 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Sat–Sun 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Why Am I Sad by Dana Stirling and Formal/Informal: Innovations in Portraiture will be on display at the Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre from March 24 through May 15, 2026 during regular gallery hours.
Why Am I Sad features still life photography by Dana Stirling that explores themes of mental health and depression through personal narrative. As the child of immigrants, Stirling reflects on experiences of cultural identity, isolation and emotional struggle, using photography as a visual language to express feelings that words cannot fully capture.
Formal/Informal: Innovations in Portraiture from the Syracuse University Art Museum examines the evolving nature of portraiture from the 19th century to the present. The exhibition contrasts traditional posed portraits with more contemporary interpretations in which environment, context and personal identity play key roles in shaping the subject’s story.
Together, the exhibitions highlight how photography and portraiture can communicate personal and social narratives, offering perspectives that range from intimate individual experiences to broader reflections on society.
Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The gallery is closed on Mondays and university holidays.
