"In the Zeitgeist: Francois Poisson" Exhibit at JAC

"In the Zeitgeist: Francois Poisson" Exhibit at Jamestown Arts Center

April 10—June 13, 2026

Gallery is Open: Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM (& by appointment)

Ten years of observing the world...

About the Exhibition

For François Poisson, art is both a lifeline and a means of bearing witness. An artist whose multidisciplinary practice is rooted in painting and woodworking—he holds a BFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design (1984) and an MFA in Painting from the University of Michigan (1990)—Poisson has long used his hands and his eye to process the world around him. In the Zeitgeist features work created over the past ten years, a period the artist describes as marked by upheaval, uncertainty, and a troubling shift in the national direction.

“The pieces in this exhibition represent more than ten years of observing world events and processing my thoughts on them through my art,” said Poisson. “I speak from the point of view of an American citizen keenly aware of the troubling direction this country has moved, and our heavy-handed influence on the rest of the planet.”

Central to the exhibition is Poisson’s most enduring series, Bunny Cars, which features wheeled objects adorned with the face of a celluloid bunny mask. This recurring image serves as the artist's leitmotif, representing a “wary innocence making its way through a troubled world.” As his work has evolved, the faces have become optional, with some pieces taking on more direct associations. The exhibition will also include his newer Exhaust Sticks, a series born from the artist's daily encounters with aggressive, lifted pickup trucks—a symbol he sees as emblematic of a deeper American ethos where “might makes right.”

Despite the gravity of its themes, In the Zeitgeist is not an exercise in despair. Poisson views the act of creation as inherently purposeful and hopeful. “The art-making process has been a lifeline, allowing me to at least feel engaged with a sense of purpose,” he writes. “In my hopeful moments, I see art as cathartic, at the very least, and capable of provoking change for the good, at its best.”

Related Programming

April 10, 5:30—7:30 PM: Opening Reception

Reception for In the Zeitgeist and NEXT. Free, open to all. Meet the artists!

April 12, 2 PM: Artist Talk with Francois Poisson

Moderated by Exhibitions Director Karen Conway.