The Virtual Gallery

In Memoriam

In 2021, Toronto-based photographer Stephen L. Starkman was diagnosed with small-cell lung carcinoma. After a series of radiation and chemotherapy treatments, the artist learned the disease had spread to his brain and was incurable. During and after his treatment, Stephen documented his illness in service of his book, The Proximity of Mortality (2022). Combining landscapes, hospital scenes, and self-portraiture with poems and quotes by other cancer patients, the book offers a glimpse into both the physical and psychological ramifications of terminal illness.

The images are vast and moving. They tell a frank and beautiful story, each showing a quiet confrontation with what does -or does not- come after life’s end.

The Griffin Museum is deeply saddened by the passing of this amazing photographer and wonderful human in September of 2023. To honor his legacy and this deeply important volume, we have displayed just some of the images from the book here.

Thank you, Stephen, for all you have given to the world.

Artist Statement

“You can wait here in the sitting room, or you can sit here in the waiting room.”—Firesign Theater

Much of our lives is spent waiting.  We wait on lines to buy coffee, a ticket to a movie, to use a bathroom. We will wait in a restaurant for a table to be cleared so we can wait for our food to be served.  We sit in a waiting room to see a doctor. We wait for the school year to start and then wait for summer vacation. We wait for a friend to show up for a walking date. A return phone call. A special event.  We wait for a connection. We wait for love. 

I am always waiting for something to happen. Or waiting to piece together what just happened. Even waiting to figure out what could have happened. And as I wait, I photograph places that reveal nothing clearly, or something just out of reach. I search for moments that evoke the feelings inherent in the discomfort of waiting. My intention is to capture the ironic, amusing, and suspenseful. I hope to capture a sense of curiosity about what could be or could have been.

I wait.  And in that waiting, I act.

About

Joy Bush is a photographer based in Connecticut.  She grew up near New York City and as a child she loved family excursions to NYC museums and theater productions.  After graduating from college she discovered the magic of photography, and bought herself a Pentax Spotmatic.  Eventually employed as a university photographer, she documented life on college campuses while developing personal bodies of work.

Joy’s fine art photographs grow out of her interest in social landscapes. In her images there is an echo of human presence: a sense that people have recently left with no certainty of when, or if, they will return.  

Bush’s work was recently featured in UNBEATABLE WOMEN at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, CT (2022) and HOME VIEWS at the Griffin Museum of Photography in Massachusetts. (2021). Her photographs have appeared in Fraction Magazine, The Village Voice, The New York Times, Connecticut Review, and many other publications. She has exhibited in solo and group exhibits nationally and internationally including the International Center for Photography (NYC), Mattatuck Museum, (CT), Lyman Allyn Art Museum, Copley Society (Boston, MA), Garrison Art Center (NY), and  Umbrella Arts (NYC). Bush is represented in the permanent collections of the Cincinnati Art Museum, Mattatuck Museum,  Montefiore Hospital (Bronx, NY), the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Yale Medical Group Art Place, and private collections.

JoyBushPhotography.com

@joybushphotography

Reflecting on the Griffin Museum of Photography’s archive of Arthur Griffin’s work, this exhibition highlights the work of the museum’s founder and the beautiful New England scenery with which he was so enamored. The clear skies, ocean views, and portraits of local families show a clear lifetime commitment to photographing and documenting the joy of New England summers in this online exhibition, A Summer with Arthur Griffin.  

Life Magazine names Arthur Griffin as one of New England’s earliest photojournalists “known for his landscape photography of the region.” Originally trained to be an illustrator, Arthur Griffin became a photographer after picking up a second hand folding Brownie, launching a lifelong passion and career in photography. He became the exclusive photographer for the Boston Globe Rotogravure Magazine and a photojournalist for Life and Time Magazines. 

Arthur’s legacy lives on at the Griffin Museum of Photography, founded in 1992 to promote an appreciation of photographic art and foster a broader understanding of its visual, emotional, and social impact. The museum honors Arthur Griffin as its founder by maintaining his legacy through the visual archive. Here are just a few examples from the archive, highlighting his work and celebrating the spirit of summer.  

Written By: Maeve Kydd, Curatorial summer intern, 2023

Research By: Kaitlyn Hughes, Archive summer intern 2023

My father used a sextant for celestial navigation on aircraft carriers in the Navy and on family sailing trips.  He taught me to see the constellation pictures, stellar landmarks, and stories in the stars.  I’ve loved looking at the night sky all my life.  As a child I would lie on the grass, or on a snowbank, and look up into the darkness and wonder what was out there; willing myself with all my might to visit the cosmos – hearing the siren song that has called humanity to look to the heavens since the dawn of time.

World issues, politics, relationships, and even my daily routine, fall into perspective against the awesome spectacles in our own galaxy and the universe beyond.  I am small and insignificant yet privileged to see and share these wonders.

Using my telescope as a lens, I capture the ancient light of things that are unimaginably old, unfathomably distant, and incomprehensibly vast. They are at the same time delicate and extremely violent; still, and yet constantly changing.  Being born, living, and dying at a cadence as slow as they are vast, stars, nebulae, and galaxies echo the terrestrial creation we see around us. 

Long exposure photography is the only way we can experience these awe-inspiring celestial scenes.  Each final photograph is constructed from individual images captured over many tens of hours.  It’s not unusual for the final photograph to contain 100 or more frames.  In these images, there is art in the science, and science in the art.

About Marsha Wilcox

The intricate beauty in the universe around us, from a droplet on an autumnal branch to the awe-inspiring patterns and colors in nebulae and galaxies fascinate me.

A course in Night Photography introduced me to the nuances of light and color after the sun sets.  In addition to urban landscapes, we photographed the grand Milky Way.  The allure of looking deeper into the night sky called me.  Using telescopes, dedicated astronomy cameras, and specialized filters, I am able to image ancient light, things unseen with the naked eye.

On clear, calm, nights when the moon is dim, I wheel my telescope out to image the universe.  It’s not unusual for neighbors to stop by; it is a privilege to share the night sky with them. 

A retired epidemiologist, I also hold an MPS in Digital Photography from the School of Visual Arts in New York.  I usually image the night sky outside of Boston in the company of three wonderful Golden Retrievers.

To see more of Marsha Wilcox‘s work, see her website.

Boston’s colonial leaders once called Downtown Boston home, and the district’s residents traded on the wharves and in shops leading from the waterfront.  The seat of government was the Old State House at the head of State Street.  The main freshwater source for the area gave Spring Lane its name.
Although you wouldn’t know it today, as recently as 20 years ago, Downtown Crossing was hardly an attraction at all. It was a place occupied almost entirely by shoppers and office workers. The neighborhood was busy during the day, but went silent at night. Now, emerging retail giants, new restaurants and revived forms of entertainment keep visitors busy deep into the night. 

Neighborhoods throughout Boston all have their own distinct demographics. But Downtown Crossing prides itself on being a place that has a little bit of everything for everyone. “When you’re taking Washington Street and you go all the way down into different neighborhoods, there are different demographics. But, specifically talking about Downtown Crossing, it really is a crossing of lots of cultures. Just a few blocks away along Washington Street, Chinatown is experiencing similar changes to Downtown Crossing. 

In Early 1982 , I moved to Boston from Manhattan, NYC to attend college. Back then, the city was mostly diverse during the semester calendar of the year when students like me (called back then foreign students) would be there during the college semesters and when college was over most would leave town for job opportunities elsewhere. The city was mostly known for its lack of diversity, lack of inclusiveness and racial tensions. 
I worked there briefly after college and then like most relocated back to NYC where 31 years later still reside. 
Recently I was invited by Crista Dix, Executive Director of the Griffin Museum to show my photographic series Expanding The Pantheon : Women R Beautiful at The Griffin @ Lafayette City Center Gallery in Downtown Crossing Boston. 
I was also asked if could do what I call and had done in several other museums a ” Wall Portrait Session ” on which will asked passersby subjects to have their portrait taken and document the current demographics of the area. 
This happened Saturday May 13, 2023 from 2-4 PM right in front of Macy’s (which in the past was formerly Jordan Marsh). 
I was so pleasantly surprised by how diverse and inclusive the city has become. Everywhere I went around the city, from my Uber driver, to delivery, to retail employers, hotel managers etc, etc, minorities and members of the LBGTQ+ community were present, confident and more than anything being seen!
I was so thrilled to document such a strong shift in demographics so evident and present and how everyone interacted so well with each other. I witnessed and documented a newer, inclusive and diverse city. 
The wall selected for the portrait session was this wonderful wallpaper simulating stage drapery. It was tiny but just perfect ! The final effect to me seemed like a vintage photo booth, where people go in to have that perfect moment of togetherness 

This whole digital archive was donated by me to The Griffin Museum. My way to give back to the city who formed me as the professional, individual and human that I am today.

RUBEN NATAL-SAN MIGUEL is an architect, fine art photographer, curator, creative director and critic. His stature in the photo world has earned him awards, features in major media, countless exhibitions and collaborations with photo icons such as Magnum Photographer Susan Meiselas. Gallery shows include: Asya Geisberg, SoHo Photo, Rush Arts, Finch & Ada, Kris Graves Projects, Fuchs Projects, WhiteBox Gallery, Station Independent Projects Gallery, LMAK Gallery,  Postmasters Gallery  Rome  & NYC  and others. His work has been featured in numerous institutions: The New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Griffin Museum of Photography, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, African American Museum of Philadelphia, The Makeshift Museum in Los Angeles, University of Washington, El Museo del Barrio and Phillips Auction House and Aperture Foundation.

We celebrate the unique and individual narratives from twenty two New England schools with Singular Vision. These incredible students give us a vision of the medium that provides great promise for photography. Whatever creative path they decide to follow, their vision is one we look forward to. Thank you to all the teachers who inspire these students with their creativity and ability to support them with the tools to express their creativity.

We have highlighted three students here with recognition of first, second and third place, and each school had one student artist receive an honorable mention.

First Place – Miffy Wang – Governor’s Academy

Second Place – Amina Benlail – Winsor School

Third Place – Laura Botnaru – Marblehead

The schools and students shown here – Honorable Mentions and Award Winners are highlighted with *

Arlington High School – Educator – David Moore – Students – *Giselle Sical-Mayen, Daniel Hazen, Moshe Goff, Daneili Felscuti, Alex Moran

Bedford High School – Educator – Larry Sheinfield & Sean Hagan – Students – Marlowe Tilne, Joseph Kponou, Emily Zeltser, Shannon Sullivan, *Ameera Saba

Boston Arts Academy – Educator – Guy Michel Telemaque- Students – Jade Miranda, Denver Simmons, Milianys Polanco, *Xavier James, Nadine Vincent

Brimmer and May – Educator – Blake Fitch – Students – *Nolan Suraci, Oliver Baggett, Edrik Quezada, Zachary Adler, Thomas Gheewalla

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School – Educator – Andrew Warren – Students – Emmy Lev, *Rahina Abubakar, Caroline White, Keira Hagerty, Mika Higgins

Cambridge Rindge & Latin School – Educators – Debi Milligan, Cindy Weisbart , Amanda Kilton

Students – Hailey McLaughlin, Natalia Livon-Navarro, Stella Guest, Lucy Taylor, Clara Delfumeri, *Isaac Wheatley, Elisa Bechthold, *Ella Lehrich, Erwin Kardaktzke, Adelina Escamilla-Salomon, Ronan Mullner, Zephyr Newman, Alfrid Naziha

Concord Carlisle High School – Educator – Greg Coan – Student – Lila Parker (Image No.1)

Dana Hall School – Educator – MaryAnn McQuillan – Students – Amy Meuse, Sicheng Wang, Eloise Svedlund, Miranda Meuse, *Stella Yan

Framingham High School – Educator – Scott Alberg – Students – Hayley Muniz Santiago, Sam Lamont, Meghan McCluskey, *Dylan Harris

The Governor’s Academy – Educator – David Oxton – Students – (1st Place) Miffy Wang, Eliza Gibbs, Bear Brooks, Matt Collina, *Brian Zheng

Lexington High School – Educator – Samantha Lowe – Students – Ana Avila Garcia, *Lotem Loeb, William Kilgore, Kyle Taylor, Nora Manasas

Marblehead High School – Educator – Leah Bordieri – Students – Siena Day, (3rd Place) Laura Botnaru, Saylor Caruso, *Andrea Potvin, Samantha Roman

Milton Academy – Educator – Scot Nobles – Students – Blake Ankner, *Jack Weil, Michaela Ocko, Alex Cesaretti, Natalie Williamson

Norwood High School – Educator – Saquora Lowe-McLaurin – Students – Lise Marie, Yash Shah, Lilila Hatch, Avi Yossef, *Anna Buttton

Pingree School – Educator – Debora VanderMolen – Students – Alex Yablin, Helena Crate, *Jack Moulison, Riley McClure, Helen Coughlin

Reading Memorial High School – Educator – Kathleen Dailey – Students – Jackie Cole, Rose Clark, Hannah Rigney, *Jonathan Nazarro, Mina Willander, Emily Bass

The Rivers School – Educator – Sophie Lane – Students – Kate Paquette, Sindisiwe Khumalo, Taylor Ehler, *Maylea Harris, Madison Ngai

Somerset Berkley Regional High School – Educator – Virginia Troutman – Student – *Henry James, Leandra Paul, Alex Crook, Sam Grew, Hayden Teasdale

Walnut Hill School for the Arts – Educator – Holly Worthington – Students Sophia Kim, Andrew Glass, Rowling Zhu

Weston High School – Alexander Zhu, *Ryan Kirmelewicz, Andrew Pettinato, Elisha Davidoff, Ryan Chao

Winchester High School – Educator – Caitlin Engels – Students – *Neave Bunting, Mairin Norton, Maggie Shevland, Leo Wang, Natalie Taylor

The Winsor School – Educators – Sara Macaulay, Erin Calamari-Kirwan and Mia Tinkjian – Students – Keira Finn, (2nd Place) Amina Benlail, *Camille Eckert, Aiko Dable, Emma Roffman

In 2016 I had a spinal cord injury. That was seven years ago. I was 22. Being paralyzed and using a wheelchair fundamentally changed everything about how I move through the world and society; physically, emotionally and mentally everything is different. These photographs and short films shot using various analog formats (super 8mm, 35mm, 120mm, 4×5 and 8×10), are my way of understanding what happened to me, who I was, and who I am continually becoming.  

Nolan Ryan Trowe is a multidisciplinary artist from California. His work has been published and recognized internationally. The most recent of his many honors is being a Magnum Foundation Photography and Social Justice Fellow. Currently a series of his photos are on view at the Museum of the City of New York.