Before he became known as “New England’s photographer laureate,” Arthur Griffin was an accomplished photojournalist. In the 1930’s and 40’s, Griffin served as the New England photojournalist for Life and Time magazines and was the exclusive photographer for the Boston Globe Rotogravure Magazine. Arthur Griffin: A Singular Vision, is an exhibition that focus solely on Griffin’s work as a photojournalist, will be on display in the Lafayette City Center Hallway that links Macy’s with the Hyatt Regency Hotel from July 16 through October 6, 2014.

“In conjunction with the renovation of the Lafayette City Center into a modern mixed-use office and retail center, we are excited to be promoting culture and arts in the district,” said David Epstein, president of the Abbey Group and owner of Lafayette City Center. “The vibrant nature of Downtown Boston continues to flourish with these types of unique and exciting happenings occurring on a regular basis making it one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in the city for both office workers and residents.”

The 1930’s – 1950’s were the golden age of photojournalism, and Griffin worked side by side with legends like Alfred Eisenstadt, Gordon Parks and Carl Mydans. The job of these photojournalists was to eyewitness great events and to do whatever they had to do to be on the scene. Their photographs needed to tell the story, not merely illustrate or adorn it.

“What makes the photographers of this era stand out from most of the photojournalists of today is that they could do everything – fashion, war, street scenes, celebrities – and they could do it all amazingly well,” explained Robert Sullivan, executive editor of LIFE and editor of the book The Great LIFE Photographers (Bulfinch). “Arthur Griffin was of this mode. He was capable of shooting anything and doing it very well. His photographs have an aesthetic quality that give them meaning and depth and a history that provides you with all you need to know about the people and places in the photograph.”

Demonstrating Griffin’s unique talent and storytelling ability, A Singular Vision brings together some of Griffin’s finest street photographs, sports photographs and portraits taken while on assignment. Griffin’s assignments had him covering the visits of luminaries like Herbert Hoover and Bette Davis, documenting tragedies such as the hurricane of 1938, and chronicling every day life and events like the Brockton Fair and swimmers at Revere Beach. Griffin’s photographs combined his impeccable sense for composition with a playful, kinetic quality that was a reflection of his personality and gave the photographs depth and meaning.

“After 1951, Arthur Griffin chose to move into more commercial work,” said Paula Tognarelli, Executive Director of the Griffin Museum. “Many people aren’t aware of his journalistic work, or of his pioneering work with color film. Arthur Griffin’s contribution to the world of photography comes from his complete body of work. In the glory days of photojournalism, he was one of the great chroniclers of New England. We are very proud to be able to share his work, and his legacy, through this exhibition.”

Arthur Griffin: A Singular Vision, is an exhibition that focus solely on Griffin’s work as a photojournalist, will be on display in the Lafayette City Center Hallway that links Macy’s with the Hyatt Regency Hotel from July 16 through October 6, 2014.