Artist John A. Rice has his studio in New York, but for the very first time, he’s bringing his art practice back to his hometown. Beyond Words: A Homecoming Exhibition at Braddock’s UnSmoke Systems is a retrospective of Rice’s work that includes the Mindscapes Tarot he’s most recognized for. In this presentation of his artwork, however, he’s taken his interest in the otherworldly in a new direction. Rice did an artist residency in Lily Dale, NY, a town in upstate New York known for its psychic mediums. He completed a series of “art seances” where he worked collaboratively with mediums. The result is the work in Beyond Words. Rice has shared some insights and meditations about this one-of-a-kind show with Petrichor—when I heard about the concept, I knew I had to hear more. The show is open until May 31 by appointment, and if you don’t get a chance to see it, you can still learn from John through his
Petrichor: How did you get interested in psychics and mediums?
John A. Rice: My interest in psychic phenomena goes back a long time. I grew up in the Baptist church, which meant I was in the pews nearly every Sunday until I turned 18. As a queer artist, I eventually had to step away from the church because of its harmful teachings, but it also showed me the beauty, wisdom, and sense of community that spirituality can bring to a life.
Because I had to reconcile my own values with what I was being taught, I ended up forging a spiritual path that felt more true to me. It’s probably no surprise that alternative and left-hand spiritualities have always appealed to me. I also grew up in Pittsburgh, surrounded by people deeply connected to their roots and their ancestors. I come from a Slovak family rooted in tradition and custom, and mediumship feels like a natural blending of those early influences.
During the height of the pandemic, I took a class called Mediumship for Creativity that helped me understand my artistic brain in a new way. I’ve always been able to “see” my artworks fully formed in my mind before I create them, and it was in this class that I first heard that referred to as “channeling.” Personally, I choose not to question where those visions come from. Is it a higher power? An ancestor? My own subconscious mind? I don’t know, and honestly, I like not knowing. It lets me create without judgment, and then move on to the next thing. Sometimes I like what I make, sometimes I don’t—but ultimately, that’s not my job.
What was the collaborative process of the “art seances” like?
JAR: When I accepted the artist residency in Lily Dale, I really had no idea what to expect. I came with a stack of 100 handwritten questions from visitors to one of my gallery shows, and over the course of the residency, I sat with eight different psychic mediums in town.
What surprised me most was how different each medium’s process was. Everyone had their own way of connecting with “Spirit”—that is, the energy that exists beyond our usual perception. Some contacted the deceased loved ones of the person who asked the original question. Others received impressions or guidance as feelings or images. And in one case, the answers came through physical manifestation—think of an old-school séance, with objects moving and voices from beyond.
In that particular session, I sat with a medium named Havi Richards, who practices a technique called “table tipping.” It involves a heavy table that responds to yes-or-no questions by tilting, rotating, or even lifting off the floor with nothing but the tips of our fingers resting on the surface. When Havi and I placed our hands on the table, it sprang to life, jerking and dancing across the room. I recorded the session, and it sounds like the house is about to fall down. It was wild. Really something else.
I recorded all the sessions and the messages that came through. Those sessions allowed me to envision or “channel” the series of artworks now on view at UnSmoke.
Could you say a little more about the idea of “offering readers a reflective space rather than definitive answers”? How does that show up in your work?
JAR: The exhibit includes an interactive component: when people enter, they’re invited to write down a question—something personal, something that’s been weighing on them—and carry it with them through the show.
I work very hard to create an environment of peace, reflection, and inspiration. My hope is that, in spending time with the work, people will feel less alone. They’ll realize how many others are wrestling with the same questions. Instead of giving direct answers (which are so personal, and not mine to give), my artworks are more like quiet meditations. If someone leaves thinking about their question in a new way, or feels nudged toward a small shift in their life, that’s the best I could hope for.
Why did you choose UnSmoke as the show’s location?
JAR: UnSmoke Systems Artspace is just an incredible space. It’s in a repurposed Catholic school building in Braddock, right across from Edgar Thompson Steel Works. The moment I walked in, I knew it was the right place for this work.
With its exposed brick, period details, and strong sense of purpose, it’s architecturally and historically rich. The old blackboards and intercoms are still on the walls. It perfectly captures the themes running through the show: humanness, community, tradition, and spirituality.
How does it feel doing your first “hometown” exhibit in Pittsburgh after receiving international acclaim for your Mindscapes Tarot?
JAR: It feels wonderful. Pittsburgh is such a special place, with its own brand of people. They’re grounded, no-nonsense, salt-of-the-earth—but also enormously open, curious, and warm-hearted.
This is the first time many of my family and friends are seeing my artwork in person. That means the world to me. It’s one thing to see images online, but being in the room with the actual paintings is completely different. The work comes alive. It breathes.
What do you hope people take away from the show?
JAR: A new perspective. A little inspiration. The encouragement to begin something—whether that’s making art, making a change, or making peace.
Above all, I hope they leave with a sense of hope.
Beyond Words: A Homecoming Exhibition is open by appointment through May 31 at UnSmoke Systems Artspace.
PETRICHOR 
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