Press Release // 3S Artspace opens 2026 Gallery Season with 'Ecorhizome Stories,' ft. works by Ezra Wube

Portsmouth, NH Friday, January 12, 2026— 3S Artspace is pleased to begin its 2026 Gallery season with Ecorhizome Stories, a multimedia exhibition featuring works by artist and filmmaker Ezra Wube, on view from February 6 through March 29, 2026. The exhibition will open with a public reception and opportunity to meet the artist on Friday, February 6, from 5 - 8 PM.

Blending stop-motion animation, painting, collage, video, and sound, Wube’s work moves between mythology, environmental reflection, and everyday life. Ecorhizome Stories brings together a constellation of animated works that explore climate, culture, and collective imagination—asking how we understand place, belonging, and human impact on the natural world.

“Back in 2013, audiences in New York City had the opportunity to witness the magic of Ezra’s animation work displayed on the electronic billboards throughout Times Square as part of Times Square Arts’ Midnight Moment program,” said Beth Falconer, Executive Director of 3S Artspace. “How lucky are we to now have Ezra exhibiting here at 3S? We’re thrilled to share that captivating and magical feeling for audiences of all ages right here in Portsmouth through works by this accomplished multidisciplinary contemporary artist.”

Rather than presenting a single focal point, Ecorhizome Stories unfolds as an interconnected ecosystem of short animations.

“For me, there is not really a single most intricate piece in the exhibition. Instead, the intricacy emerges through how each film short approaches ecology from a different vantage point, drawing on oral folklore, books, collective imagination, and my own research and exploration. I see the exhibition as a network of relationships, where meaning develops through the dialogue between pieces,” said artist Ezra Wube.

He said he hopes this allows the exhibition to exist as an unfolding communal conversation rather than a collection of isolated pieces.

Wube’s artistic process is rooted in curiosity, research, and experimentation. Projects often begin with a lived experience like a walk, a run, or a moment of heightened awareness. For example, Giants, was sparked during a run in an upstate New York forest:

“I became aware of my surroundings and how my bright neon running garment stood out against the greenery. This led me to reflect on the intentional and unintentional impacts we have when interacting with the natural environment,” Wube said. “From there, the work evolved into an exploration of human longing for connection to nature.”

His animations frequently involve painting and repainting on a single canvas, photographing each scene before transforming it into the next. This layering of time and imagery mirrors the conceptual core of his practice. 

As described in his artist statement, Wube’s work “combines tactile analog mediums and digital media to explore experiences of mobility and the malleability of time and place,” reconciling fragmentation through storytelling and the creation of “a third entity” where the past and present continuously shift.

Ecorhizome Stories also marks a meaningful return to Portsmouth, New Hampshire for the artist.

“Portsmouth was my first home in the US after migrating from Ethiopia,” Wube said. “This is where I learned to speak English, had my first art show, my first job, and even my first pizza! It’s a wonderful opportunity to share this work and reconnect with a place that was formative in my path as both an artist and a person.”

Additionally, 3S Artspace will hold an artist-led animation workshop with Ezra Wube on Saturday, February 7 from 1 - 4pm. During the Eco City Animation Workshop, participants will collaborate on an animated short that creates a portrait of the city of Portsmouth, drawing on individual knowledge and shared perspectives while advocating for environmentally sustainable urban planning and practices. Registration is open and more information can be found at 3sarts.org.

Exhibition Details
Ecorhizome Stories
Artist: Ezra Wube
On view: February 6 - March 29, 2026
Opening Reception / Meet the Artist: Friday, February 6, 5 - 8 PM
Location: 3S Artspace, Portsmouth, NH
Learn more: 3sarts.org/ecorhizome-stories

The exhibition and opening reception are free and open to the public.

3S Artspace is generously supported by: AC Hotel - Portsmouth, The Kane Company + Tidemark, The Brook Casino, Hotel Thaxter, Katzman Contemporary Projects, ListingTunnel.com, MacEdge, Raka

About 3S Artspace:
Curiosity.  Creativity.  Community.

Through the unique lens of contemporary arts experiences, 3S Artspace invites divergent perspectives and encourages lively discourse centered around issues of today.

The Gallery at 3S Artspace is an incubator of ideas, facilitator of original content, and is committed to presenting a diverse representation of contemporary visual artists. Each year, the Gallery presents exhibitions that highlight unprecedented innovation across disciplines, celebrate artistic excellence, encourage lively discourse, and foster an unwavering appreciation for the vital role that art plays in our community. 3sarts.org