Up for Interpretation by John Hartt (Jortt)
Exhibit dates: August 4 – September 2, 2023
Artist Reception: August 12, 6 pm – 8 pm
Exhibit Summary
The ARTfactory is pleased to announce our newest art exhibit “Up for Interpretation” by local artist John Hartt (or Jortt) on display August 4 – September 2, 2023. A free artist reception is scheduled for Saturday, August 12, 6 – 8 pm. “Up for Interpretation” is Jortt’s second solo exhibition at the ARTfactory and features a collection of original works. Jortt’s work is highly recognizable due to his distinctly vibrant color palette, pop art style, and his use of imaginative and familiar Jortt characters such as Balloon Boy. Jortt incorporates unusual juxtapositions in his paintings, such as a pickle burping butterflies, and unique personifications, including a family of balloons with distinct personalities and facial expressions. Jortt’s paintings evoke imagination and curiosity in all viewers, no matter their age.
“Up for Interpretation” prompts the viewer to question what they see in each painting (and the story being told behind the characters). All in all, Jortt’s artwork is Up for Interpretation.
“Something Wonderful”
This exhibition dovetails nicely with Jortt’s outdoor art exhibit “Something Wonderful” at the Harris Pavilion (9201 Center Street) in Manassas, where viewers can use QR codes on each piece of art to share the story they see with the artist. “Something Wonderful” is on display at the Harris Pavilion June 17 through September 6. A reception will be held at the Harris Pavilion on Friday, August 4 from 7:00-11:00 pm.
For the installation of “Something Wonderful”, Jortt created 14 wonderful and out of this world creatures. Each painting is an 8 foot tall character with a different personality and a different story. These characters, whether alien, robot tiki man, or something else, are designed to celebrate the diversity of our community and spark conversation. Visit https://something-wonderful.com/ for more information.
About the Artist
John Hartt, also known as Jortt, is a local artist who has lived and worked in the Manassas area for over two decades. John was the winner of the 2023 Kathleen Seefeldt Award for Individual Artist. His goal as an artist is to make people smile. His oddball style is a mix of lowbrow art, pop surrealism, and cartoonism painted with hyper-intense colors and humorous undertones. From his impromptu art gallery at the ManCave to his live paint sessions at Sinistral Brewery, visitors to Old Town Manassas can always find Jortt art somewhere in town whether on t-shirts, stickers, or prints. His artwork has also enhanced several school playgrounds in the region, and he has painted murals in locales from Fredericksburg to Washington, D.C. His current outdoor exhibit, “Something Wonderful,” will be on display at the Harris Pavilion through September 6. Check out all he has to offer at https://jortt.com/.