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Griffin News

Griffin State of Mind | Jürgen Lobert

Posted on May 1, 2021

Griffin State of Mind, a continuing series acquainting you with the members of the Griffin creative community, introduces you to Jürgen Lobert, one of our newest instructors here at the museum.  His upcoming class on Daytime Long Exposure Photography class starts Wednesday May 26th. For more information on the class, see our Events and Programs page. 

Tell us how you first connected to the Griffin Museum.

As part of my evolving business in fine art photography, I was looking for a creative outlet and community to engage in. The Griffin was a perfect fit, in my area, focused on photography and larger than some other organizations. I also had a couple of friends who were already a member, hence, I decided to join. 

How do you involve photography in your everyday life? Can you tell us about any images or artists that have caught your attention recently?

jl tree 1Photography most certainly made me go through life with a lot more visual appreciation for my surroundings. I often find myself driving along a road, or walking / hiking around and thinking: “ooh, that would make for a neat photo location”. As part of my activity in organizing Meetups and workshops, I have explored and gotten to know the greater Boston area much more than any other of the numerous locations I have lived in before. 

I constantly view other people’s image streams on Instagram, Facebook and more recently also the Griffin’s “Runway” and I find a lot of inspiration doing this. A few communities are catching my eye more recently, one being the light drawing community, the other being certain landscape images, but I do look for many other aspects, too. The main goal is to find inspiration and ideas on what to do or do differently. There are a lot of great artists out there, but what happens to catch my attention most is to see how some of my former students evolve into creating beautiful imagery that I find intriguing.  

The most recent exploration was Alexey Titarenko’s time-bending “City of Shadows” collection, which targets something between freezing moments and blurring them away through long exposures. Quite evocative! 

Can you tell us about the new class you will be teaching at the Griffin this summer?

jl landscape 2I will be teaching Daytime Long Exposure photography, which in itself is really just a technique, but one that can transform landscape or cityscape photos into serene works of art. It is a technique that adds the element of time, or the effects of time to your composition, which is something we usually don’t capture during the day, because high shutter speeds freeze motion. Blurring motion by reducing the amount of light available not only enables us to record the path of clouds and smoothing over water waves, it also makes people, cars and boats disappear, giving the scenery an otherworldly look that sets it apart from most land or city-scapes that we usually view. Images created this way immediately set themselves apart from the mainstream, and they can make mundane places look exciting. It’s a great technique to add to your photography toolbox. In addition, the workshop’s main learning goal is to embrace manual photography, to get out of auto modes and truly master manually setting exposure time, aperture and ISO and playing each other off to arrive at the perfect illumination. It will be an interactive workshop with classrooms for image review, editing and theory, alternating with small group, in-field photo shoots. A safe but fun environment for all.

Has there been a Griffin Museum exhibition that has particularly engaged or moved you?

I haven’t seen too many exhibits yet, but I thought that the recent DIGITS was well thought out and presented a different aspect of photography, apart from mainstream collections we often see. I do also like the variety of the members and winter juried shows.

What is your favorite place to escape to?

jl landscape 3Any location where I create photos! Photography itself is my escape, and it doesn’t matter so much where I am. Everyday life and whatever problems there may be magically disappear when I am out and about with my cameras. I do, however, particularly cherish moonlit nights, be it to capture the moment when our planetary companion comes over the horizon, or when it is brightly lighting up the landscape. And, of course, the grand landscapes of the western US, which seem to be made for night photography. I happen to be there this week, my first trip in 15 months.

What is a book, song or visual obsession you have at the moment?

I don’t know why, but lately my mind keeps playing a lot of my favorite tunes from the 70s and I made it a point to revisit my music library, amend it with more releases from my favorite artists and keep listening to what I have. My favorite genre is Progressive Rock, and the latest “ear worm” has been Greenslade. Perhaps age does that to you, but it’s fun. 

If you could be in a room with anyone to have a conversation, who would it be and what would you talk about?

Oh, that question needs to be more narrow! There are too many people whose minds I’d love to pick or understand. And, of course, to have one more conversation with those no longer among us for closure. 

For photography, I would love to learn about Margarete Bourke-White’s mind when she was taking photos of a nighttime air raid on Moscow. I believe talking to her would be quite insightful.

About Jürgen Lobert

jurgen headshotJürgen Lobert

Jürgen Lobert is a Massachusetts-based fine art photographer born and raised in Germany. He received a Ph.D. in atmospheric chemistry before moving to the US in 1991. Jürgen specializes in night photography, daytime long exposures, urban exploration and infrared imagery.He has been taking photos since his early 20s, mostly using color negative or slide film. He adopted digital cameras in the late 1990s and found Nikon cameras to be most suitable for his work. Jürgen started embracing night photography after taking a course at the New England School of Photography in 2011, advanced his skills quickly and enjoys the technical aspects as much as the artistic vision required.

He started organizing night photo events through Meetup groups in 2012 and founded the Greater Boston Night Photographers in 2013. Along with organizing some 40 photoshoots annually, he also lectures at camera clubs, serves as a photo competition judge and organizes professional tours and workshops. Jürgen is an executive member of the Boston Camera Club and member of the Stony Brook Camera Club, the Photographic Society of America and the Professional Photographers of America. Jürgen was an instructor at the New England School of Photography (NESOP) until 2019. Jürgen’s photography expertise is published in camera club newsletters, his own blog and on his Patreon channel. His artwork is in the permanent collection of the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, MA. Jürgen finds profound peace in roaming the nights in remote places. Capturing the element of time is the most intriguing part, where clouds become bands, cars are bright streaks in the roads, people disappear, stars form trails in the sky and water smooths over to a mirror finish. Night and daytime long exposure photography transform the familiar and create serene views of our surrounding, revealing beauty in the mundane, which we often rush by, but rarely acknowledge in its potential. The resulting images are otherworldly, hauntingly beautiful and serene lightscapes.

See more of Jurgen Lobert‘s work on his website. Follow him on Instagram @jmlobert

Filed Under: Blog, Griffin State of Mind, About the Griffin Tagged With: color photography, griffin state of mind, Photography Education, Online education, long exposure photography, Landscape photography

Illuminating the Archive of Arthur Griffin: Photographs 1935-1955, Part VI

Posted on April 29, 2021

“I know New England like the feel of my camera. I have been over her highways and up the back of dirt roads, cow paths and country lanes, and have walked the shores of many harbors, inlets and creeks… My ambition, simply stated, has been to bring happiness through my pictures, to feel that the world was a bit better off for my having done what I did.” -Arthur Griffin

Celebrating Summer

By Madison Marone

AG Archive- paddling on the Charles River
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Canoes on the Charles River: Massachusetts

Introduction

Arthur Griffin is remembered as a successful photographer for the Boston Globe and a New England photojournalist for Life and Time magazines. Griffin was a pioneer in the use of color film, providing the first color photos to appear in the Saturday Evening Post. His work captures the essence and vibrancy of mid-20th century New England.

Griffin’s legacy lives on through the Griffin Museum of Photography. As an Exhibitions Assistant at the museum, I’ve created this series to highlight and provide context for his work so viewers may experience it in new and exciting ways. Illuminating the Archive of Arthur Griffin: Photographs 1935-1955, looks at New England’s cultural heritage, traditions, and aesthetic through the lens of Griffin’s lesser-known work. This six-part exhibition explores how photography enhances our relationship with and understanding of the past. Each exhibit features historical, sociological, and creative interpretations of photographs from the museum’s collection.

Griffin famously documented the region in all of its seasons. This installment focuses on his summer photographs. It is separated into three sections based on their location: the city, the countryside, and on the shoreline.

AG Archive- woman and young girl in Dennis, MA
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Dennis, Massachusetts

For more information on Arthur Griffin’s work as a photojournalist, see the second installment: The Art of Photojournalism.

In the City

In the summertime, Boston is in full bloom. Tourists and residents of the city can be found walking about the streets, visiting the parks, and spending time by the water. People of all ages get outdoors to explore and socialize. Griffin took this opportunity to photograph summer leisure activities. He worked in the Public Gardens and Boston Commons, as well as along the Charles River and Boston Harbor. His images capture the joy and excitement of people as they celebrated the summer season.

The following images highlight some of the activities available in Boston. In the first photograph, two small boys are seen playing along the harbor with the city line as a backdrop. The next image is of a woman painting lilacs and enjoying the greenery of Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum. The third image features a group of people sightseeing on a horse-drawn carriage tour. In the following image, crowds of all ages prepare for a concert at the Hatch Shell. The final two photographs depict children and adults taking a break from the urban landscapes and enjoying the public parks.

AG Archive- swimming in the Boston Harbor
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Playing by the harbor: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- painting at the Arnold Arboretum
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Painting at the Arnold Arboretum: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- horse and carriage ride through Boston
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Carriage ride through the city: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- kids at the Hatch Shell concert
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Concert at the Hatch Shell: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- frog pond
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Boston Common Frog Pond: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Swan boat and model in the summer
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Public Gardens: Boston, Massachusetts

For more photos and information on Boston, see the third installment: Boston Arts and Entertainment.

In the Countryside

In rural areas, summer is seen as an opportunity to explore the great outdoors. Activities include fishing, hiking, and playing sports. The beauty of the New England countryside provided rich material for Griffin to photograph. He captured the dramatic scenery as well as the interesting people he met in his travels.

The following photographs capture the bright and quaint energy of summers in the country. In the first photograph, a group of children parades through a field waving American flags. The next two photos feature young boys fishing and baiting their hooks in classic Americana style. The fourth image is of an adult and child holding hands as they stroll through a covered bridge path. The next image features two boys play boxing in an open field. The final image is a group of teens biking through the countryside on a dirt road.

AG Archive- child parade
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
School parade: New Hampshire
AG Archive- boys fishing
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Fishing in a stream: Maine
AG Archive- Going fishing
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Going fishing: North Bennington, Vermont
AG Archive- Vermont bridge walk
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Walking under the covered bridge: Vermont
AG Archive- summer play
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Play boxing: Deerfield, New Hampshire
AG Archive- biking in New Hampshire
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Biking with friends: New Hampshire

For more photos and information on the region’s landscape, see the fifth installment: Landscape Photography.

On the Shoreline

The New England shoreline is a beautiful and vibrant place in the summertime. People can be seen fishing, lounging on the beach, and playing in the ocean. Griffin photographed tourists and locals as they enjoyed the summer sun along the coast. There is a sense of radiance and ease in his photographs.

The following images feature a variety of coastal activities. In the first photo, a family searches for clams in the shallow water. The second image is a scene filled with beachgoers under patterned umbrellas. The next photograph is a silhouetted pair of people walking along the sandbar at low tide. The fourth features a young boy examining a fish caught by a smiling elder. In the fifth image, horses gallop dramatically through the water with waterskiers in tow. The final photograph depicts a woman showing a group of children how to feed geese from the dock.

AG Archive- Maine Clamming
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Clamming: Biddeford, Maine
AG Archive- beach goers
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Beachgoers: Ogunquit, Maine
AG Archive: two people walking on the beach
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Walking the beach: Bailey’s Island, Maine
AG Archive- beach fishing
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Fishing on the beach: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
AG Archive- horseback waterskiing
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Waterskiing with horses: Provincetown, Massachusetts
AG Archive- feeding geese
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Feeding geese on the dock: Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts

For more maritime photos and information, see the fourth installment: New England & the Sea.

Final Thoughts

AG Archive- painting the Gloucester lighthouse
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Painting Eastern Point Lighthouse: Gloucester, Massachusetts

Celebrating summer is an important part of New England’s culture. After a long and cold winter, it is liberating to trade in coats for teeshirts and enjoy the outdoors. Griffin’s summertime photos help remind us that many of these seasonal amusements are timeless. Although the modern world looks different, it is interesting to acknowledge which activities and traditions remain. Perhaps as you go about your summer, you will remember these photographs and smile. This was Griffin’s hope all along.

For more information on New England traditions, see the installment first installment: Winter Traditions.

Special thanks to the Boston Public Library for digitizing a large portion of the Arthur Griffin Archive so it may be accessible to the public. If you would like to view more photos and library material, visit the Boston Public Library for the Digital Commonwealth and the Digital Public Library of America.


Madison Marone is an Exhibition Assistant at the Griffin Museum of Photography and a graduate student pursuing her MSc in museum studies at the University of Glasgow. She holds a BA in film studies and sociology from the University of Vermont. Her interests include early to mid-20th-century art history, film theory, and exhibit design.


All images on this webpage © copyright 2021 by the Griffin Museum of Photography. All rights reserved.  No part of this webpage may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the museum except in the case of brief quotations from the written material with citation.

Filed Under: Arthur Griffin Tagged With: vintage photographs, Photography Education, Arthur Griffin Archive, Photography, black and white, documentary photography

Griffin Museum Photobook Week May 11-17, 2021

Posted on April 27, 2021

Griffin Museum of Photography

11 May – 17 May, 2021

PT Shelfie

Celebrate the creativity and artistry of the Photobook at the Griffin in a series of conversations with independent publishers and creators in May!

The Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, Massachusetts is highlighting the enduring creativity of the Photo Book! We have invited independent publishers and creative artists to share their work, from concept to completion.  As a series of online talks and panels hosted by the Griffin Museum, this weekend of programming provides an in depth look at how Photobooks are made and the artists and craftsman who make them. 

The majority of these events are FREE to Griffin Members.

** Linda Connor ** is a fully ticketed event. $5 for Members / $10 for Non-Members

We have created a Photobook Week Pass available for Non Members at a price of $85 a 50% savings from attending all 18 events during the week. 

Not a member of the Griffin? To learn more about the benefits of being a member of our creative community see our Membership pages for more information. 

 

Event Listings – 

 

Tuesday May 11th – 

7pm – Linda Connor   Cost to Members $5 / Non-Members $10

 

Thursday May 13th – 

2pm – Grenade in a Jar with Melanie McWhorter

5pm – Larissa Leclair and the Indie Photobook Library

7pm – Mary Beth Meehan & Fred Turner

 

Friday May 14th –

2pm – Yoffy Press with Jennifer Yoffy

6pm – Shelf Talkers Social Hour

7pm – Debi Cornwall 

 

Saturday May 15th –

1pm – Daylight Books with Michael Itkoff

3pm – Peanut Press with Ashly Stohl and David Carol

5pm – Too Tired with Kelly Burgess

7pm – +Kris Graves Projects

 

Sunday May 16th – 

11am – Schilt Publishing with Maarten Schilt with J. Sybylla Smith

1pm – Emily Sheffer of Dust Collective

3pm – Saint Lucy Books with Mark Alice Durant 

5pm – 21st Editions with Steve Albahari interviewed by J. Sybylla Smith

7pm – Datz Press with Sangyon Joo

 

Monday May 17th – 

2pm –  Alexa Becker, Kehrer Verlag

5pm – Caleb Cain Marcus 

7pm – Fran Forman – The Rest Between Two Notes

 

See you online in May!

Filed Under: Events, Online Events

Illuminating the Archive of Arthur Griffin: Photographs 1935-1955, Part V

Posted on April 20, 2021

“Use a little imagination and create something that will not be just a record of a beautiful place. The extra effort and thought will result in something with some of you in it. Something you and only you created.” -Arthur Griffin

Landscape Photography

By Madison Marone

Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Mount Washington: Coös County, New Hampshire

Introduction

Arthur Griffin’s legacy lives on through the Griffin Museum of Photography. Our mission is to encourage a broader understanding and appreciation of the visual, emotional, and social impact of photographic art. I’ve created this exhibition to align with these goals and values. My intention is to highlight and provide context for Griffin’s work so viewers may experience it in new and exciting ways.

Illuminating the Archive of Arthur Griffin: Photographs 1935-1955, views the region’s cultural heritage, traditions, and aesthetic through the lens of Griffin’s lesser-known work. The six-part exhibition explores how photography affects the way we relate to and understand the past. Each exhibit features historical, sociological, and creative interpretations of photographs from the museum’s collection. This installment focuses on landscape photography. It is separated into three sections: natural landscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes. Each section begins with a quote from Griffin to better understand his artistic perspective.

AG Archive- Cape Cod bridge
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Bridge over the Canal: Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Natural Landscapes

“New England offers more for artists, photographers, and lovers of beauty than any other section of its size in the world. We really have just about everything… Where is fall more colorful? Coastline more interesting? Spring more awakening? Summer more delightful and changeable? Winter pore photogenic (and cold)?” –Arthur Griffin

AG Archive- Swift River
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Swift River: Conway, New Hampshire

New England’s geography is remarkably beautiful and diverse. In the southeast, the land consists of coastal plains and beaches. Rolling hills, jagged coastlines, and mountain ranges are found in the western and northern regions. The Appalachian Mountains extend past western New England into Maine and Canada, adding texture to the wondrous landscape.

Griffin enjoyed photographing and exploring the natural world. His admiration for the land comes across in the following photographs. In the first image, a tree is backlit by the sun, creating an angelic glow. The second is a dramatic aerial photograph of Mount Washington. The third photograph depicts a rural New Hampshire town contrasted with the expansiveness of the land. In the following image, Mount Lafayette’s peaks are framed among the clouds, creating a metaphorical connection between elements of the natural world. The final photograph is a serene, snowy Vermont landscape. 

AG Archive- tree and clouds
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Cape Porpoise: Kennebunkport, Maine
AG Archive- Mt Washington aerial view
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Mount Washington: Coös County, New Hampshire
AG Archive- Ammonoosuc River
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Ammonoosuc River: Coös County, New Hampshire
AG Archive- Mt Lafayette
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Mount Lafayette: Franconia, New Hampshire
AG Archive- VT mountain
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Pownal, Vermont

Seascapes

“New England’s ocean shore is lined with dramatic rocks against which the waves play an obliging discordant ballet, while but a short distance away, the water washes more politely against sand dunes and gentle beaches. Just round the corner, the boats of the fishing fleet, or the yachts of the leisured, invite a still further fascinating investigation.” -Arthur Griffin

AG Archive- sea and clouds
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Biddeford, Maine

Coastal New England is framed by the Atlantic Ocean. From southwestern Connecticut to northeastern Maine, the coast varies between beaches, marshes, wetlands, and hillsides. The ocean has long been regarded as a mysterious and adventurous terrain. Griffin’s images express these sentiments. His photographs capture the energy of the sea, framing it as a character in its own geographical story. If you would like to see more of Griffin’s maritime photographs, please visit Part IV of the exhibition: New England & the Sea.

In the first photograph, waves are seen crashing over rocks as the water rushes towards the shore. The second image is a serene shot with colors progressing from the darkness of the sea to the brightness of the sky. The following photo features a Cape Cod town and the vast ocean that surrounds it. The final two photographs lay in contrast to one another. One was taken at sunrise, while the other was taken under a full moon.

AG Archive- Schoodic Point
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Schoodic Point: Acadia National Park, Maine
AG Archive- New Harbor, Maine
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
New Harbor, Maine
AG Archive- Cape Cod
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Cape Cod: Dennis, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Sunrise
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Sunrise: Maine
AG Archive- full moon over the water
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Full moon over the ocean: Marblehead, Massachusetts

Cityscapes

“Most buildings are not very photogenic or interesting unless you can get unusual lighting, frame the picture effectively, or get personalities in the scene… You can’t get the best angles and views by always staying on the ground. I took some of the pictures from a plane. To get the grasshopper on top of the cupola of Faneuil Hall, I had to climb countless stairs and ladders, open a skylight, and trust a muscular janitor to hold my legs while I leaned out and shot skyward.” –Arthur Griffin

AG Archive- grasshopper
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Cupola on Faneuil Hall: Boston, Massachusetts

The metropolitan areas of New England feature an interesting mixture of historic and modern architecture. From industrial factories to bustling neighborhoods, these cities provide rich material for a curious photographer to work with. Arthur Griffin was as enthusiastic about documenting urban landscapes as he was natural landscapes. He photographed cities from unconventional perspectives, finding unique angles and lighting.

The following photos showcase Griffin’s creativity. The first image is an aerial view of Boston’s parks, skyscrapers, and bay. The second looks up at an industrial building engulfed in steam. The next photo emphasizes the bright energy of Harvard’s campus, dramatically framed with dark plants in the foreground. The fourth image features the steaming Golden Teapot, which serves as an advertisement for the bustling city. In the final photo, a mill’s bright lights illuminate the night, reflecting upon the Merrimack river.

AG Archive- aerial view of Boston
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Aerial view of the city: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Waterfront industrial
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Waterfront industrial: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Harvard
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Harvard: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Golden Teapot
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
The Oriental Tea Company’s Golden Teapot: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Mills at night
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Mills at night: Lawrence, Massachusetts

Final Thoughts

“With the changing of the seasons, every scene presents a different picture. A person can devote a lifetime to New England and never cover half of the possibilities. I know. I have.” –Arthur Griffin

AG Archive- sea and sky
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Nantucket, Massachusetts

Griffin’s admiration for the outdoors and passion for photography resulted in photographs that do more than just record how a place looks. His photographs inspire emotional responses. Landscape photography has the ability to guide viewers to spaces they have never been, or long to return to. Each photograph offers an opportunity for us to travel to new places in our hearts and minds.

Special thanks to the Boston Public Library for digitizing a large portion of the Arthur Griffin Archive so it may be accessible to the public. If you would like to view more photos and library material, visit the Boston Public Library for the Digital Commonwealth and the Digital Public Library of America.


Madison Marone is an Exhibition Assistant at the Griffin Museum of Photography and a graduate student pursuing her MSc in museum studies at the University of Glasgow. She holds a BA in film studies and sociology from the University of Vermont. Her interests include early to mid-20th-century art history, film theory, and exhibit design.


References:

Griffin, Arthur, and McCord David Thompson Watson. New England Revisited. The Author, 1966.

Kenny, Herbert A., et al. New England in Focus: the Arthur Griffin Story. A. Griffin, 1995.

All images on this webpage © copyright 2021 by the Griffin Museum of Photography. All rights reserved.  No part of this webpage may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the museum except in the case of brief quotations from the written material with citation.

Filed Under: Arthur Griffin Tagged With: Photography Education, Arthur Griffin Archive, New England, Photography, black and white, documentary photography, Landscape, vintage photographs

Griffin State of Mind | Donna Garcia

Posted on April 9, 2021

We are delighted to have artist and educator Donna Garcia join our team at the Griffin as a curator and instructor. Donna will be a part of our upcoming show Spirit: Focus on Indigenous Art, Artists and Issues, and she will be teaching a one-day workshop, Marketing for Emerging Artists on Saturday, April 24th, along with her Self Portraiture class, taking place this fall. To see what gets her in the Griffin State of Mind, we asked her a couple of questions. 

Donna Garcia with camera

© Donna Garcia

Describe how you first connected with the Griffin.

Paula Tognarelli was a juror for a show that I had been selected for in New York City, and she really made me want to learn more about the Griffin.

Can you tell us about the workshop and the new classes you will be teaching at the Griffin?

I am excited to be able to share my experience in marketing and as an emerging lens-based artist, who has had to navigate ways to market my own work, in a one-day workshop, Marketing for Emerging Artists. However, Self-Portraiture is my passion. It is not just a contemplation of self, but it is a way we allows others to see us, reflects how we see the world and our place in it. Particularly during this past year, as we have all experienced an alienation of self in many ways.

We are so excited to have you join us as a curator for the Spirit: Focus on Indigenous Art, Artists and Issues. Can you tell us a little bit about the show and how a sense of spirit will influence the exhibition?

images from Spirit: Focus on Indigenous Art, Artists, and Issues

Spirit: Focus on Indigenous Art, Artists and Issues

Spirit is an initiative designed to educate the public, through lens-based art, regarding the true history of Indigenous people and recruit advocates for Indigenous issues everywhere, but with a specific focus on the US and Canada, where native lands and people аre still coming under attack. Collectively, this exhibition offers a partial glimpse, rather than a sweeping overview, of the many complex issues that Indigenous people navigate as part of their lived realities. It reflects, in part, the intricate nature of Indigenous identity. These ten artists have created images that reveal expressions of trauma, resiliency, resistance, healing, tradition, celebration and the undying spirit to preserve Indigenous culture even through the ravaging effects of centuries of colonization.

abstract woman in a dress with mirror, flowers, and tornado

© Donna Garcia – Air

As an adjunct professor you have said that mentoring students is very important. Can you tell us about why it is important to you to establish a time where students can come to you for support?

Teaching and learning the basic techniques of photography or filmmaking аre very straight forward, but learning to be an artist cannot be taught, it can only be learned. To help my students discover more about who they аre as artists and what they want to say, involves asking them the right questions, which only they can answer – that is how I view mentorship. That time of exploration where we find our own voice as artists usually happens before, after or in-between lectures.

How do you involve photography in your everyday life? How have your subjects changed during these unique times of distance and isolation?

woman surrounded by abstract lines

© Donna Garcia – Swarm

As an artist who does a great deal of self-portraiture, photography is a conduit between my self and the world outside. Photography is often a way that I visually define my role during a particular time. We all have three “roles” in time; the person we are in the present, the past and the future, so what happens when we only have the present? During the pandemic, time became elongated, stretched out, hence those “roles” stopped being linear and for me, the challenge became about dealing with a distancing or alienation of self just as much as being isolated from others.

Joan Didion - Slouching Towards Bethlehem

Joan Didion – Slouching Towards Bethlehem

 

What is one of your favorite exhibitions shown at the Griffin?

The Disappearance of Joseph Plummer, by Amani Willett. I absolutely love that work.

What is one book, song, or other visual obsession that you have at the moment?

I have read a lot of Joan Didion over the past year with Slouching Towards Bethlehem and The White Album being two that I would read again. One of my favorite quotes from her is, “I have already lost touch with a couple of the people I used to be” – Joan Didion.

 

To learn more about Donna Garcia and view her work, visit her website, and check out her Instagram, @DonnaGarcia23. 

Filed Under: Griffin State of Mind, About the Griffin Tagged With: Griffin Photo Education, Creative Artist, Griffin Teachers, Faculty at the Griffin Museum, Donna Garcia, Spirit: Focus on Indigenous Art, griffin state of mind, Artists and Issues, about us, Griffin Museum of Photography

New Griffin Museum Members Community

Posted on April 7, 2021

Director’s Welcome!

Hello and Welcome to a new experience at the Griffin Museum online!

We are thrilled to announce that the Griffin Museum of Photography has launched a new website at members.griffinmuseum.org  Our goal with this new members’ community is to create a user-friendly experience for our valued members. We hope you enjoy our new membership portal, community space and workflow that is easy to navigate, and more user-friendly. This new portal will provide you with increased value and benefits including:

  • A searchable membership directory (members can turn this feature off)
  • An online event calendar with online payments and better ticketing processes.
  • Ability to edit your profile and pay membership dues online.
  • Receive email renewal letters and reminders (one can opt out to receive paper if desired)
  • Have your photo news published.
  • Share photos.
  • Digital Membership Cards! (one can opt out if desired)
  • And more!

We welcome you and thank you for being part of a community of creative artists from around the world supporting our world class museum of photography online and in Winchester, Massachusetts.

We have launched an online platform for our Membership. Members were sent emails with login credentials to be able to access our new platform. If you are a member and did not receive an email from us, please let us know.

griffin members community header

If you are a new member and are just learning about us, the Griffin Museum of Photography is a nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the art of photography. Through our many exhibitions, programs and lectures, we strive to encourage a broader understanding and appreciation of the visual, emotional and social impact of photographic art. As an institution, we are committed to insuring that our mindset, our practice, our outreach, our programming and our exhibitions set a framework with priorities for building programs and exhibitions that consider diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion through our mission that is centered around the photograph.

We look forward to seeing all of you share your work, words and creativity here online. 

This creative space will give you first hand looks at events, calls for entry and exhibitions happening at the Griffin and with members of our community. 

Thank you for joining us here online and we look forward to seeing you here and in person at the museum soon!

Here at the Griffin we always try to keep our community connected, with us and to one another. Offering engaging and novel programming, showcasing thought-provoking exhibitions and providing opportunities for dialogue are some of the ways we build community. Most of all, we want to shape a place of belonging where all are welcome. Our move to providing a community space for our members is aimed at making your engagement with us an even better experience for all. 

As we’ve grown, we’ve become encumbered by data. Automation of our record systems and workflows will provide more accuracy and time savings so that we can spend more of our time planning for you. Please be patient with us as we transition to updated membership processes and a community space just for you, our valued members.

With gratitude to all of you,

Paula Tognarelli
Executive Director and Curator
Griffin Museum of Photography

Filed Under: Uncategorized, About the Griffin

Illuminating the Archive of Arthur Griffin: Photographs 1935-1955, Part IV

Posted on March 29, 2021

New England & the Sea

“From the arrival of the Pilgrims in Plymouth in 1620 to the present, the coasts of New England have been the site of defensive forts and the home base for commerce, fishing, whaling, and shipbuilding industries. Maritime history and industry are on display in every state.” -Visit New England

By Madison Marone

AG Archive- mackerel fishing
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Mackerel Fishing 1944: Maine

Introduction

Arthur Griffin’s legacy lives on through the Griffin Museum of Photography. As an Exhibitions Assistant for the museum, I’ve created this exhibition to highlight and provide context for his work so viewers may experience it in new and exciting ways.

Griffin’s photographs capture the essence and vibrancy of mid-20th century New England. Illuminating the Archive of Arthur Griffin: Photographs 1935-1955, views the region’s cultural heritage, traditions, and aesthetic through the lens of Griffin’s lesser-known work. The six-part exhibition explores how photography affects the way we relate to and understand the past. Each exhibit features historical, sociological, and creative interpretations of photographs from the museum’s collection. This installment focuses on New England’s working waterfront documented through Griffin’s photos. It is divided into three sections: the fishing industry, shipyards, and coastal tourism.

AG Archive-Mayflower II
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
The Mayflower II: Plymouth, Massachusetts

Fishing Industry

New England’s location and longstanding fishing heritage make it one of the United States’ top regions for seafood. The Long Island Sound and the Gulf of Maine provide nutrient-rich waters for fish and shellfish to thrive. The catch is predominantly lobster, scallops, and groundfish. Towns such as Gloucester and Portland serve as central locations for commercial fishermen.

Griffin joined the fishermen on their outings to capture the drama and excitement of their work. It is a dangerous profession with high risk and reward. He documented the entire commercial fishing process from ships to piers, as well as canning and distribution centers. His photographs provided a behind-the-scenes look at the journey seafood takes from the ocean to our dinner plates.

The following photographs showcase the labor and process of the fishing industry in the mid-20th century. In the first photograph, a lobsterman and his reflection are captured in contrast to the vast ocean. The second focuses on the catch while fishermen work diligently in the background. The next photo is an action shot evoking the drama of life out at sea. A photo of the fishing pier serves as a transition to the gathering and distribution of the abundant catch. The final two photos document workers processing and canning fish before being sold to the public.

AG Archive- lobsterman on the water
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved Lobsterman on the water: New Harbor, Maine
AG Archive- striped bass
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Striped bass caught off of Cape Cod: Orleans, Massachusetts
AG Archive- mackerel fishing action shot
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Mackerel fishing 1944: Maine
AG Archive- Boston fish pier
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Fish pier: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- drying smoked herring
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Drying smoked herring: Eastport, Maine
AG Archive- canning muscles
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Inspecting and canning muscles: Bar Harbor, Maine

Shipyards

Historically, shipbuilding has been important to New England’s economy due to its role in trade, travel, and fishing. Shipyards have thrived in this region due to the volume of protected harbors and the abundance of raw materials such as lumber. The process of building wooden ships requires a variety of skilled workers including carpenters, painters, riggers, and sailmakers. Although modern shipbuilding has changed immensely, institutions such as the Mystic Seaport Museum work to preserve historic methods.

Griffin’s photos provide insight into the history and culture of New England’s shipyards. His images showcase the artistry of the craft. Through the use of dramatic lighting and candid photography, he evokes a sense of admiration and awe for the workers.

The following photographs depict a range of jobs needed for these large-scale projects. In the first image, Griffin captures the immense proportions of a coal barge in contrast with the men working on it. The second photograph emphasizes the delicate focus of a man painting the hull, his body framed in shadows cast from nearby ships. The next two feature workers precariously balanced while painting and creating the frame of a ship. In the fourth image, Griffin pointed his camera to a man working aloft with the sky as a backdrop. The final image shows the silhouette of a man leaning off of a ladder.

AG Archive- building a coal barge
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Building a coal barge: Camden, Maine
AG Archive- working on the hull
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Working on the hull: Marblehead, Massachusetts
AG Archive- painting in the shipyard
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Painting in the Shipyard: Gloucester, Massachusetts
AG Archive- shipbuilding
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Shipbuilding: Camden, Maine
AG Archive- working aloft
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Working aloft: Manchester-by-the-sea, Massachusetts
AG Archive- shipyard labor
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Graues shipyard 1937: Marblehead, Massachusetts

Coastal Tourism

Tourism is an important part of New England’s working waterfront. Seaside monuments and museums attract visitors while teaching them about maritime history. Historic vessels such as the USS Constitution and the Charles W. Morgan provide hands-on learning experiences by allowing visitors to climb aboard. These institutions help preserve history while inspiring connections to the sea. Excursions, ferry rides, and fresh seafood help foster an appreciation for coastal New England.

Griffin often photographed these popular spots. The following images feature a variety of activities for visitors and locals alike. The first image is of a family taking photos at Gloucester’s Fisherman’s Memorial that commemorates lives lost at sea. The second and third are photographs of two historic vessels still open to the public: USS Constitution and Charles W. Morgan. The next image was taken inside of the Nantucket Whaling Museum as visitors learn about the artifacts. The fifth image is of the SS Steel Pier in Provincetown as it sets out to transport people back to Boston. The final image features crowds enjoying fresh lobster on a dock in Maine.

AG Archive- Fisherman's memorial
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Taking photos at the Fisherman’s Memorial: Gloucester, Massachusetts
AG Archive- the USS Constitution
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
The USS Constitution “Old Ironsides”: Charlestown, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Charles W. Morgan vessel
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Charles W. Morgan, the world’s last wooden whaling ship: Mystic, Connecticut
AG Archive- Nantucket Whaling Museum interior
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Visiting the Whaling Museum: Nantucket, Massachusetts
AG Archive- SS. Steel Pier
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
SS. Steel Pier: Provincetown, Massachusetts
AG Archive- eating lobsters
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Eating lobsters 1943: Bristol, Maine

Final Thoughts

AG Archive- Boston fish pier
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Fish pier: Boston, Massachusetts

Griffin’s work cultivates an appreciation for the labor, artistry, and legacy of maritime New England. His photographs encourage us to engage with the history and delights of the region’s coast. If you’re interested in exploring further, please visit New England Maritime & Seafaring History for an extensive list of attractions and historic sites.

Special thanks to the Boston Public Library for digitizing a large portion of the Arthur Griffin Archive so it may be accessible to the public. If you would like to view more photos and library material, visit the Boston Public Library for the Digital Commonwealth and the Digital Public Library of America.


Madison Marone is an Exhibition Assistant at the Griffin Museum of Photography and a graduate student pursuing her MSc in museum studies at the University of Glasgow. She holds a BA in film studies and sociology from the University of Vermont. Her interests include early to mid-20th-century art history, film theory, and exhibit design.


References:

1. “New England’s Maritime & Seafaring History.” Visit New England, www.visitnewengland.com/all/maritime-and-seafaring-new-england/

2. Dunnack, Emily. “Lobsters and Oysters and Clams: A Short History of Seafood in Connecticut.” Connecticut History | a CTHumanities Project, 24 May 2019, connecticuthistory.org/lobsters-and-oysters-and-clams-a-short-history-of-seafood-in-connecticut/.

3. “What to Do, Eat, and See in Gloucester, MA.” Discover Gloucester, www.discovergloucester.com/.

4. Visit Portland, www.visitportland.com/.

5. The Atlantic Slave Trade: Effects on Economies, Societies, and Peoples in Africa, the Americas, and Europe, by Stanley L. Engerman and Joseph E. Inikori, Duke Univ. Press, 2007.

6. “Henry B. DuPont Preservation Shipyard.” Mystic Seaport Museum, 30 Dec. 2020, www.mysticseaport.org/explore/shipyard-gallery/.

7. USS Constitution Museum, 24 Mar. 2021, ussconstitutionmuseum.org/.

8. “Charles W. Morgan – The Last Wooden Whaleship in the World!” Mystic Seaport Museum, 28 Jan. 2021, www.mysticseaport.org/explore/morgan/.

9. “Whaling Museum.” Nantucket Historical Association, 3 Mar. 2021, nha.org/visit/museums-and-tours/whaling-museum/.

10. “Boston Boat.” Town of Provincetown, MA – Official Website, www.provincetown-ma.gov/1014/Boston-Boat.

All images on this webpage © copyright 2021 by the Griffin Museum of Photography. All rights reserved.  No part of this webpage may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the museum except in the case of brief quotations from the written material with citation.

Filed Under: Arthur Griffin Tagged With: black and white, documentary photography, vintage photographs, Photography Education, Arthur Griffin Archive, New England, Photography

Griffin State of Mind | Erin Carey

Posted on March 26, 2021

Artist, curator, and educator Erin Carey had been a valued member of the Griffin Museum Community since 2019. We are so excited to have Erin join us as an instructor for  Siren Song: Exploring Poetry & Photography and Making Better Pictures: Fundamentals of Design. We interviewed Erin to hear about the origins and influences of her Griffin State of Mind. 

Image of Erin Carey

Erin Carey

How did you first connect with the Griffin?

In 2008 I became Gallery Director at New England School of Photography and with my new appointment, I was invited to participate in NEPR as a reviewer that spring. I was completely new to the professional/academic photo scene in Boston and Keith Johnson, who was also teaching at NESOP at that time, took me under his wing introducing me to everyone including Paula, who later offered me (a perfect stranger!) a lift back to NESOP so I wouldn’t miss my afternoon class!

How do you involve photography in your everyday? Can you tell us about an image or images that have recently caught your eye?

book open to black and white images of nature

© Robert Adams – Summer Nights Walking

I carry a small, fixed lens film camera in my pocket with me everywhere I go. You’ll find rolls of film in my backpack, jacket pockets, the arm rest of my car. It’s a tool that has served me well.

Since the onset of the pandemic, I have been spending a lot of time looking at and thinking about landscape as a construct. My first true love in photography was the large format, color landscape work of the 1970’s. Robert Adams has been at the forefront of my mind, “Summer Nights Walking” and “From the Missouri West.” Sternfeld’s “Oxbow Archive” has also been a close friend to me in recent months, quietly powerful and debilitatingly beautiful. Last week I attended a fabulous lecture at ICP by Richard Misrach and was reminded of how much Desert Cantos moved me so many years ago and how relevant that work continues to be.

Can you tell us about the new classes you are teaching at the Griffin?

man fixing truck with water tower in background

© Jon Horvath – This is Bliss

I am so excited about Siren Song, it’s the first time I am offering it and it is many years in the making. I’ve always felt photography has everything to do with poetry… perhaps it has to do with asking questions and leaving something to the imagination.

Has there been a Griffin exhibition that is a favorite of yours?

This is Bliss by Jon Horvath was on view last winter, right before the pandemic hit. It is a magical and melancholy essay on a disappearing town in the midwest.

What is your favorite place to escape to?

I grew up spending summers in the lakes region of the white mountains and am extremely lucky to be able to spend time there as an adult. I also live near the seacoast, so when I can’t get away to the mountains I enjoy foggy bike rides on the Merrimack river.

What is one book, song or visual obsession you have at the moment?

Kamasi Washington’s Harmony of Difference is on my playlist every day. It was written as a collaboration with a film maker and debuted at the 2017 Whitney Biennial. I am continually surprised by the movements and the energy.

woman with umbrella, shot through car window

© Saul Leiter

If you could be in a room with anyone to have a conversation, who would it be and what would you talk about?

How can I answer this? There are so many people I could name here, historical figures, artists, deceased family members. In an attempt to keep the conversation related to photography I’d have to say Saul Leiter. I cannot imagine where the conversation might have taken us and that would have been part of the delight…no agenda at all, just coffee, a plaid scarf, a pile of books, and some stories about New York and art.

To view Erin Carey‘s work, visit her website, www.erin-carey.com, and check out her Instagram, @NegativeJoy.

Filed Under: Griffin State of Mind, About the Griffin Tagged With: Griffin Photo Education, Creative Artist, Griffin Teachers, griffin state of mind, about us, Griffin Museum of Photography

Atelier 33 | Amy Eilertsen

Posted on March 22, 2021

In today’s highlight of the Atelier 33 exhibition, we interviewed Amy Eilertsen about her series Memento Vivere: A Study of Life. Amy’s collection of images puts an interesting spin on seventeenth century masters paintings. Scenes of her domestic fowl have become sweet memories, and reminders to live.

chicken on book with flowers

© Amy Eilertsen – Apocalypse

Why did Dutch masters’ paintings become such a great inspiration to you? How has this project helped you preserve the memories of your beloved animals?

I studied art history for a few years in college and fell in love with the Dutch masters because of the depth of color and shadow, the rendering of complex and the exotic still life. Historically, during the time the still lifes were rendered, Europe was recovering from the decimation of the Black Plague, and the upper middle class became infatuated with the exotic foods that they were now able to purchase. It was a time of plenty- and a celebration of beauty. Several of the animal actors featured in this series have passed away and I love the memories that I have captured in these images. 

What do you hope we as viewers take away from viewing your work?

I hope that viewers will be taken in by the painterly tones and classic composition of the works, and be intrigued by the appearance of the fowl.  The meta message of this project is “remember that you are alive” and I hope that the viewers sense the secondary message regarding animal cruelty. 

duck in basket on table with flowers and fruit

© Amy Eilertsen – Mads 2

Tell us what is next for you creatively.

I am in the cusp of deciding among a few projects- and will continue collaborating with my feathered friends.

To see the full collection of Memento Vivere: A Study of Life, visit the Atelier website.

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Blog, Atelier Tagged With: Artist Talk, Photographers on Photography, atelier 33

Atelier 33 | Terry Bleser

Posted on March 20, 2021

Terry Bleser‘s collection Searching for a Sense of Home, part of the Atelier 33 exhibition, is on display in the Griffin Main Gallery until March 26, 2021. Terry’s series explores the idea of trying to find comfort in a new place through understanding one’s relationship with the land. We asked the artist some questions to hear more about her collection.

forest with trees and grass

© Terry Bleser – Fairyland

Which of these images was the impetus for this series? How did it inform how you completed the series?

The image called Fairyland was one of the initial photographs in the series. The marshes often present as thorny bristly places that resist exploration, but this small circle of green grasses surrounded by trees was an invitation to conjure up the fairies to play. It made me think about our age old conflicting feelings about nature.

 

How has your photography changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic? Has the Atelier been a motivator to persevere through these trying times?

stairs in grass

© Terry Bleser – Solitude Bridge

After 25 years of living outside of Boston I relocated farther south in
Maryland. This was a month before COVID-19 began its spread around the country. It made seeking out new friends and finding all the usual
essentials of daily life difficult. Landscape photography gave me the joy of exploring the area and getting to experience at least one aspect of this
new place. The Atelier was a wonderful opportunity to connect with other photographers and continue to grow in my art.

Has photographing your new home in this context changed your perception of what “home” can mean?

When I arrived here I focussed on moving in and arranging a comfortable nest. Not able to socialize with people, I started exploring the front porches and lawns of the neighborhood to glean a sense of the community from the way they presented themselves through their houses and landscaping. But I longed for a different kind of connection. I realized that in my old home place there were natural areas that I frequented and became familiar with. That gave me a broader sense of home that extended beyond the house and city to the natural world. It was a larger sense of place on the planet that I missed. So I began to explore with my camera, looking for a place.

House behind trees

© Terry Bleser – Home

What do you hope we as viewers take away from viewing your work?

I would hope that we as a species could be more mindful in our treatment of the land. Wetlands have often in the past been considered pest ridden, mucky, thorny, impenetrable places that need to be drained and filled in. But the marshes are more complicated than that. They protect us and provide resources for industries.

 

 

Tell us what is next for you creatively.

I have found two places that I want to get to know well, to spend time developing an awareness of the lives that transpire there. I will carry my camera there and spend some time watching and learning.

Visit Terry Bleser’s website to see more of her work.

Filed Under: Blog, Atelier Tagged With: Photographers on Photography, atelier 33, Artist Talk

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Floor Plan

Amy Rindskopf's Terra Novus

At the market, I pick each one up, pulled in by the shapes as they sit together, waiting. I feel its heft in my hand, enjoy the textures of the skin or peel, and begin to look closer and closer. The patterns on each individual surface marks them as distinct. I push further still, discovering territory unseen by the casual observer, a new land. I am like a satellite orbiting a distant planet, taking the first-ever images of this newly envisioned place.

This project started as an homage to Edward Weston’s Pepper No. 30 (I am, ironically, allergic to peppers). As I looked for my subject matter at the market, I found that I wasn’t drawn to just one single fruit or vegetable. There were so many choices, appealing to both hand and eye. I decided to print in black and white to help make the images visually more about the shapes, and not about guessing which fruit is smoothest, which vegetable is greenest.

Artistic Purpose/Intent

Artistic Purpose/Intent

Tricia Gahagan

 

Photography has been paramount in my personal path of healing from disease and

connecting with consciousness. The intention of my work is to overcome the limits of the

mind and engage the spirit. Like a Zen koan, my images are paradoxes hidden in plain

sight. They are intended to be sat with meditatively, eventually revealing greater truths

about the world and about one’s self.

 

John Chervinsky’s photography is a testament to pensive work without simple answers;

it connects by encouraging discovery and altering perspectives. I see this scholarship

as a potential to continue his legacy and evolve the boundaries of how photography can

explore the human condition.

 

Growing my artistic skill and voice as an emerging photographer is critical, I see this as

a rare opportunity to strengthen my foundation and transition towards an established

and influential future. I am thirsty to engage viewers and provide a transformative

experience through my work. I have been honing my current project and building a plan

for its complete execution. The incredible Griffin community of mentors and the

generous funds would be instrumental for its development. I deeply recognize the

hallmark moment this could be for the introduction of the work. Thank you for providing

this incredible opportunity for budding visions and artists that know they have something

greater to share with the world.

Fran Forman RSVP