When Covid hit, Joseph Lozano found himself taking long hikes in Wissahickon Park with his family. Those walks, and the surprising history he discovered about the park's centuries-old hermit communities, have now transformed into "A Discreet History of Trees," an exhibition of paintings at Manayunk's Gross McCleaf Gallery.

The exhibit, which opened Feb. 21 and will continue through March 22 at 123 Leverington Ave. in Manayunk, features 14 paintings inspired by Wissahickon Park, part of the largest municipal park system in the world. The show's intriguing title refers to the concept of exploring the often overlooked and hidden aspects of trees, particularly their complex social interactions, communication methods and vital role in the ecosystem.

"The title was probably subconsciously influenced by Peter Wohlleben's 2015 best-seller, 'The Hidden Life of Trees,'" Lozano explained, referencing the book that delves into the "discreet" or subtle ways trees live and interact with each other within a forest. The New York Times called it "one of the most beloved books of our time."

During his research into the park's history, Lozano discovered a fascinating detail that resonated with his own background: centuries ago, hermits lived in the park awaiting what they thought would be the apocalypse. "Their story started to feel a little less crazy and more like a mirror to ours," Lozano said. "I grew up in an ecumenical Christian community that my father started in the '70s. In the early days, all the members lived together in one house. The story of the hermits living together in Wissahickon Park adjacent to society but not a part of it was not much of a leap of the imagination for me."

Lozano and his family have lived in the Blue Bell Hill neighborhood on the border between Germantown and West Mt. Airy for six years and before that in Wissahickon. "A friend told us about this house, and we snatched it up quickly," he said last week. "We love the trees and nature in this area."

Before the pandemic, Lozano worked for 10 years in communications for Visiting Angels, a home healthcare agency, painting at night after his children went to bed. The pandemic, however, proved to be a blessing in disguise. "During the pandemic I decided to take the big leap," he said. "It made me realize that I was capable of being a full-time stay-at-home dad and artist."

Lozano, who grew up in Ardmore and attended Lower Merion High School, always had a passion for art and got serious about it in high school. He earned an undergraduate degree in 2007 and a master's in fine art in 2009, both at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. His wife, Meryl, studied at Temple University's Tyler School of Art and is now in the nonprofit space. They have two children — Hugo, 9, and Wills, 7.

"There is a stereotype in the art world of the 'starving artist,'" said Lozano, "that it is very difficult to have children because artists are consumed by their work and it is not a financially stable way of life. There used to be an expectation that you would not have children if you were an artist. In fact, my favorite exhibit was one I curated, 'Family Matter,' in 2023 at the Gross McCleaf Gallery because all the artists in it did not fit this stereotype. They all had children, and many of them actually chose to collaborate with their kids on the artwork that they made. Other paintings were just about the unique perspective of being a parent."

Rebecca Segall, a Chestnut Hill resident who owns the Gross McCleaf Gallery, said she feels lucky to represent him. 

"When I took over the gallery in 2020, I inherited a talented stable of artists, and Joseph Lozano was one of them,” she said. “He has been represented by the gallery since 2013, and he brings a high quality to both his observational and technical skills. I love to work with artists who are not only well trained but who are curious about the world and their relationship to it. In 'A Discreet History of Trees,' Joseph has created a wonderful body of work ... a culmination of his ongoing research and broader reflections on what interests him. It's true alchemy, and I find it to be magical!"

For more information, visit grossmccleaf.com or call 215-665-8138. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com .