Join us for a free, public reception with light refreshments and conversation with the Artist, Hannah Epstein on Thursday, September 12 from 6 – 8 p.m.

University Park, P.A. – The HUB-Robeson Galleries are proud to present Nittany Lion: Eco- Mascot, a solo exhibition by Hannah Epstein. Epstein, also known as hanski, describes herself as “a feminist folklorist of the Internet Age” who in past works has created hooked rugs that depicted Internet memes and monsters. For the HUB Gallery, Epstein’s textiles envision the University’s sports mascot as an environmental crusader and supportive friend to the Earth who is having a 90’s tabloid style meltdown. In one hooked rug the Nittany Lion reads The Drowned World, J.G. Ballard’s climate fiction sci fi novel, in another Hot Mama Earth sweats and cries as she faces the climate crisis. As a trained folklorist, Epstein advocates for a deeper understanding of storytelling as a shared, connective activity, where artists can begin to code alternate realities into the social consciousness. Themes of "play" connect her multi-disciplinary practice as her work aims to turn passive voyeurs into active players. By employing game design techniques, she encourages a form of active critique- one that probes the rules structures governing all social interactions. The works in this exhibition were created during a residency at the Textile Arts Center in New York. Epstein earned a BA from Memorial University of Newfoundland (2009) and an MFA from Carnegie Mellon (2017). Her work has been included in exhibitions in Canada and the United States since 2011. She lives and works in Toronto and Los Angeles and is represented by Steve Turner Gallery. The galleries are open daily 10 – 4 p.m. For more information on this and other exhibitions, contact the HUB-Robeson Galleries
 at (814) 865-2563, or visit our website at studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/art-galleries