Making Magic While the Sun Hides is an exploration of the intersections of family history, memory, and transformation. A dollhouse constructed by my grandfather becomes a surrogate for the recently demolished family home and a stage for toy horses and unicorns that evoke childhood memories and represent familial bonds, depicted through vibrant, playful imagery. This body of work reimagines inherited objects and personal narratives through photography, handcrafted elements, and stop-motion animation, transforming them into dynamic metaphors for identity, relationships, and the passage of time.

Blending nostalgia with imaginative storytelling, I invite viewers to reflect on their own connections to legacy, memory, and the meaning of “home.” My work seeks to capture the delicate balance between presence and absence, offering a deeply personal yet universal exploration of how our childhood shapes who we are. Through these multi-layered works, Making Magic While the Sun Hides encourages viewers to linger in the magic of their own stories created in our darkest times.

– Emma Jo Vitallo, 2025