The Franklin Gallery will host an exhibit titled An American Story: The Phasianidae Family & Friends during the month of April. The exhibit features the work of artist Susan York and will be on display at the gallery, located at 33 N. Main Street in Rochester. The public is encouraged to visit during regular gallery hours: Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Susan J. York is a multidisciplinary artist based in Shokan, NY. Working across painting and textile, her work explores paradox, social dynamics, and the emotional landscape of contemporary life. York frequently uses animals and natural forms as symbolic figures through which to examine themes of identity, power, resilience, and connection.

The series of paintings in this exhibit began with a simple observation. “Wild turkeys began gathering beneath my window to eat birdseed, allowing me to see the iridescent colors in their feathers up close for the first time,” says York. “Their plumage reminded me of the peacocks I had photographed over the years, and research revealed that both birds belong to the same biological family: Phasianidae. Despite this shared lineage, the two birds occupy very different places in our cultural imagination. Peacocks are admired for their beauty and appear in fashion, decoration, and advertising, while turkeys are more commonly associated with hunting or food.

This contrast became a lens through which York began to think about the social tensions unfolding in the United States at the time she was creating the work. Questions of power, privilege, race, identity, and belonging filled the national conversation. In these paintings, the birds function as symbolic figures through which to consider those dynamics. By placing them within shared visual narratives, York explored how perception, status, and cultural stories shape the way we value one another.

Ultimately, the work asks a simple question: What story is our country telling us now?

A Maine native, York holds a B.F.A. with honors from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. Her work has been exhibited throughout the Northeast and is held in private collections in the United Kingdom, Ireland, New England, Florida, Tennessee, California, Hawaii, and New York. Her projects often combine visual storytelling with social commentary, inviting viewers to reflect on the narratives that shape both personal and collective experience.

The Franklin Gallery is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Unless otherwise indicated, all exhibited Franklin Gallery artworks are available for purchase. For more information about this and future exhibits, contact Kris Ebbeson at krisebbeson@comcast.net or 603-812-1488.

The Franklin Gallery is located inside RiverStones Custom Framing, 33 N. Main Street, Rochester.