Forever Young

So much of who we are is shaped by the objects and moments that stay with us. In Forever Young, artist Dee Dee Bernhardt transforms these personal keepsakes into emotional landmarks, capturing the whimsical magic of childhood and encouraging us to pause, reflect, and remember.

Drawing from photographs and artifacts of her youth (both iconic and personal), Bernhardt reimagines memory as a visual story of identity and joy. Her black-and-white paintings recall the intimacy of personal and family snapshots, while bursts of vibrant color bring life to playful treasures like the Big Wheel, Radio Flyer wagon, Cozy Coupe, and jump rope. She explains, "The focus on the recreation and translation of the memory to the canvas in a way that still retained visual interest and invoked memories in those who viewed it was paramount to capture." Each piece explores the emotional weight of simple things once loved, offering viewers a chance to return to the moments that shaped them.

I immediately understood what Bernhardt was feeling when she said, "I wish I could fit in the Cozy Coupe or in the Radio Flyer wagon to experience these things as a young kid again." Forever Young captures exactly that: the longing to relive the delight of childhood. She invites you to revisit your youth and find comfort in the familiar. She hopes that her exhibition brings a smile to your face and offers a meaningful connection to your past and her art.