Sharpsburg resident uses art as vessel for self-exploration and coping with ADHD
Aug. 10—Lifelong Sharpsburg resident Kristen Postava has found a way to cope with her life of "chaos."
Postava tackles her self-described chaos by combining her love of art with her desire to triumph over ongoing struggles resulting from her ADHD symptoms with her art show, Unfiltered Vision: Art from the Unconventional Mind, opening Aug. 19 and running through Sept. 9 at the Sharpsburg Community Library.
"My art is a manifestation of my neurodivergent mind, allowing me to explore and express myself in unconventional ways," said Postava, a special education teacher at Penn Hills Elementary School.
ADHD is short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a common chronic condition that includes symptoms of hyperactivity, lack of focus, forgetfulness and disorganization.
As an adult living with undiagnosed ADHD, Postava embraces her spontaneous creative process.
"I rarely sit down with a preconceived plan. Instead, I let my ideas flow naturally. Sometimes an idea becomes fixated in my mind, looping incessantly until I release it onto the canvas," Postava said.
Often using her hands to paint on the canvas, Postava said the tactile experience of applying the paint directly to the canvas allows her to connect with her work on a sensory level.
"It grants me a sense of freedom and liberation, enabling me to communicate my thoughts and emotions without the constraints of traditional tools," she said.
Her mediums include manipulated photography, found items and acrylics.
"One of my paintings is on a pizza box, another is on a deer skull with other bones and yarn. My art consists of whatever I can get my hands on to paint and mess around with at any given time," Postava said.
Sharpsburg Community Library branch manager Sara Mariacher described Postava's artistic style as eclectic.
"The collection featuring traditional work as well as work made from recycled materials and vibrant colors," Mariacher said.
The reception will be in the community room and the exhibit will be in the non-fiction room.
Postava is particularly motivated to create art with discarded items and found materials.
"By giving life to forgotten materials, I aim to challenge conventional notions of beauty and elevate the ordinary into something extraordinary," Postava said.
Postava, 43, graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with an education degree.
She recently completed her 18th year of teaching with the Penn Hills School District and still resides in her childhood home.
Postava displays her work at Art All Night annually and she hides pieces of her artwork around Pittsburgh, dubbing it "Art and Seek Pgh," and moderates a Facebook page by the same name inviting the public to join in the art hide and seek adventures.
Her first solo art show, "Silver Linings: A Study Into The Joy In Life" debuted pre-covid at Ketchup City Creative in Sharpsburg.
For Postava, creating art helps to offset the daily challenges she sometimes experiences with ADHD.
"I gave up trying to be perfect a long time ago. I just try to do my best everyday and I do the same with my art," Postava said. "I do not believe that I have "talent." I just create art, which is something everyone can do. Creating art always makes me feel great because I am doing it for me and no one else. If other people also like it or can connect with it, that is lovely. It just isn't my goal."
Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce by email at jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter .
