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Photography

Stephanie Shih | Griffin State of Mind

Posted on March 7, 2023

Stephanie Shih’s Asian American Still Life looks at the way we imbue preconceived notions of what the object holds, and how we re-envision that object in a new context. Her work is on view as part of My Favorite Things at Lafayette City Center, downtown Boston.

Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I am a visual still life artist, working in the mediums of photo and motion. I’m originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, and currently live and work in Los Angeles, CA.

Tell a little about your exhibition, “Asian American Still Life.”

Asian American Still Life is an on-going series that examines the cultural richness of what’s usually considered the very Eurocentric (and painting-based) art tradition of still life. In the series, I’m pulling from my own cultural background as a Taiwanese-Chinese American as well as collaborating with other creators in the Asian diaspora to make our presences known in this venerated art tradition… and having a bit of subversive fun along the way (hopefully).

What do you find special about still life photography? What led to your decision to use it as a means to explore Asian American identity with this project?

I’ve always been more drawn to food and things and their internal lives than I have been to people! I like to “hear” the stories and histories that objects can tell. And so often in the history of the Eurocentric still life tradition, objects from other cultures get thrown in without context. I felt like it was really time to try to take back some of that narrative space and, in doing so, push the tradition forward.

What is a literary, musical or visual obsession you have at the moment?

I came across ceramicist Fujikasa Satoko’s work recently and am mind-boggled and obsessed. She makes clay come so alive that I’m in disbelief that it’s actually clay. That’s the kind of aliveness I always seek to bring to my still life arrangements!

ABOUT STEPHANIE SHIH

Stephanie Shih is a visual still life artist, known for her painterly use of shadow applied to playful perspectives on food. Shih started making photographs with her dad’s half-frame camera on childhood road trips, but only took up photography seriously later in life while in graduate school. At the time, she moonlighted as a caterer, and translating the experience of food to the visual image has been a driving through line of her work ever since.

As a second generation Taiwanese-Chinese American, Shih explores themes of cultural dynamics—belonging,alienation, appropriation, celebration—through her still life photographs. Shih’s photography has been featured in print outlets including Elle Girl Korea, 7×7, and Gastronomica, and online on Gourmet Live, Saveur, Fine Cooking, and Buzzfeed.

Shih is from the San Francisco Bay Area and currently lives in Los Angeles. When not in the studio or kitchen creating, she is a professor at University of Southern California.

Filed Under: Griffin State of Mind, Exhibitions Tagged With: Griffin Exhibitions, Photography, color, Artist Talk, Photographers on Photography

Bonnie Newman | Griffin State of Mind

Posted on February 18, 2023

Bonnie Newman’s “First Light” still hangs at WinCam, so be sure to see it before it leaves in March! To learn more about her process we asked her questions for Griffin State of Mind!

Tell us a little about your background.

Thirteen years ago, I retired from a career in higher education and nonprofit management. I love travel and have always taken snapshots that captured the beauty and special aspects of the places I visited.  And I have always found solace and spirituality in nature.  Eight years ago, I upgraded my camera, started taking photography courses, and connected with a community of photographers, all of which helped me to strengthen my skills and have fun experimenting with my photography. 

Tell a little about your recent exhibition, “First Light,” and how it was conceived.

I have a small cottage with windows on a pond on Cape Cod. Spending time there provided the opportunity to deeply notice my everchanging environment.  I was particularly captivated by the morning light on the pond.  I started taking photos from my window, my dock, and my kayak. In time, I felt I was simply recording the view, and not capturing the spirit of the area.  I discovered the feature on my DSLR camera that allowed me to combine two images in-camera, one over the other, which made it possible to create more imaginative photos.  I have since taken hundreds of multiple-exposure images that celebrate the early morning light on the pond. 

How has your approach to photography evolved since beginning the project?

My work on this project has pushed me to experiment even more, utilizing intentional camera movement, (ICM) along with multiple exposures, to create “reinvisioned” landscapes, which capture the emotion I feel in the beauty  and serenity of nature.

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

I always enjoy the exhibitions–I love seeing the many ways that photographers use the medium of photography to share their vision and what is important to them, and I gravitate to those who use experimental/out of the box techniques, and new ways of seeing nature and landscape.

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

I’ve had the opportunity to photograph a two-hundred-year-old historic barn that is about to be dismantled and rebuilt.  I loved documenting the many discarded, deteriorating items left there for years, and then once the items were cleared out, to notice the elements of the structure of the barn.  I particularly like the shapes, textures and shadows, the centuries-old construction techniques,  the deteriorating wood, the old birds nests, and even the invasion of ivy through the dusty broken windows.  

ABOUT BONNIE NEWMAN

Bonnie Newman is a photographer, outdoor enthusiast and avid traveler. With her camera, she experiences and captures the splendor of nature, compelling moments, and new environments. 

Newman finds inspiration in nature, whether an expansive landscape or a detail that catches her eye. She sees abstraction everywhere and is attracted to shapes, transparency, distortion and fragmentation. Her recent landscape work utilizes the techniques of transparency and reflection, double exposure, and intentional camera movement to reveal her singular vision of a scene. The resulting images vacillate between serene and edgy, offering a flight from reality combined with a hint of mystery.

Newman’s photographs have been exhibited in a solo show at the Cary Public Library in Lexington MA.  She has also exhibited at the Griffin Museum of Photography and juried in to group exhibitions at the Cambridge Art Association, Arlington Center for the Arts, Plymouth Center for the Arts, and Gallery Twist in Lexington.  

She photographs for the Brewster Conservation Trust and the Town of Lexington Conservation Department, and her photos are on display at Brewster (MA) Town Hall, and the Lexington (MA) Visitor’s Center and in private collections.

Newman has taken photography courses with Emily Belz at the Arlington Center for the Arts, Griffin Museum of Photography, and the DeCordova Museum. (2015-2020).  She participated in the Atelier 33 at the Griffin, has taken online workshops with Valda Bailey and Doug Chinnery, and  workshops on Cape Cod with Steven Koppel and Julia Cumes .

Newman lives in Lexington and Brewster MA.

She can be found at http://bonnienewmanphotography.com/

WinCam is located in Winchester, at 32 Swanton Road, Winchester, MA 01890

Filed Under: Exhibitions, Griffin State of Mind Tagged With: Photography, Photographers on Photography, Griffin Exhibitions

Judith Black | Griffin State of Mind

Posted on February 15, 2023

With Family Album coming to a close at the end of February, we wanted to interview Judith Black for Griffin State of Mind.

Tell us a little about your background.
I have always loved making pictures… drawing cartoon characters, painting, taking some photos with my Brownie camera from an early age. Fast forward, in 1979 I started a masters degree program at the Creative Photography Lab at MIT founded by Minor White. I was 34 years old, recently divorced with four small children. Finding role models became an important part of my research. I was looking to see how women who were both photographers and mothers managed to balance nurturing their family and their need to have a career.

Family Group (Mother’s day) May 12, 1985

What compelled you to document your family originally?
Realizing I would not be able to spend much time away from work and home, I used the camera to record the physical and emotional changes we have all made over the years. Families are complicated…. something I hope my photos demonstrate. The photographs are a way for me to remember both the pleasures and pains of being part of and raising a family.

How has your approach to photography evolved since beginning the project?
It has been pretty consistent, actually, for the work I choose to exhibit which has always been black and white. At first, I used several kinds of film cameras. I was given the Polaroid Type 55 film, I fell in love with it. It that gave me a 4×5 negative and little print in 60 seconds. Once Polaroid and the Type 55 were gone, it was time to do something a bit different. I found that as digital cameras got better and better, I started to make more use of color. Who knows what I will do with that archive.

Laura and Self (Before Arthur’s memorial service), December 30, 1994

Tell a little about your recent exhibition, “Family Album”, and how it was conceived.
Barbara Hitchcock, formerly Director of the Polaroid International Collection, is the curator of the exhibit which pairs my work with Bjorn Sterri’s photographs of his family and his self. Barbara brought a non-chronological order to the photographs, choosing to look for visual ideas that brought small groups of photos together to spark a dialogue. It was wonderful to work with her choices!

Malcolm, June 20, 2002

Has there been a Griffin Museum exhibition that has particularly engaged or moved you?
I really enjoyed seeing the Lou Jones exhibit a couple of years ago. He is wonderful supporter of photography, a prolific photographer with so many bodies of work and a generous mentor.

ABOUT JUDITH BLACK

Judith Black received her Master of Science in Visual Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981 and was a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1986. She taught in the Art Department at Wellesley College for 25 years. Black’s work has been collected and exhibited in museums, from the Museum of Modern Art, New York to museums, institutions and galleries across the globe.

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Griffin State of Mind Tagged With: Griffin Exhibitions, Photography, black and white, Artist Talk

Meg Birnbaum | Griffin State of Mind

Posted on January 27, 2023

Meg Birnbaum’s upcoming education series with Griffin will allow you make your personal story into a universal one. We wanted to delve into the creative and narrative process behind her photographs, and what objectives she hopes to hit in her class.

What aspects of photographic storytelling are most important that often don’t apply with non-narrative photography?

I think that the artists intention is the most important aspect – not just the story but what it is that the artist wants to convey, what kind of emotion does the artist want to share with or elicit from the viewer?

Tell us about your background.

I grew up outside NYC and consider myself fortunate because my parents subscribed to a number of magazines including the amazing LIFE and LOOK. I credit them and the NY Times Sunday Magazine with developing my interest in narrative photography. It was a wonderful time for magazines and I remember racing home from school to be the first to look at them, reluctantly handing them over to my dad when he got home. What I remember is how well the photography went beyond direct photojournalism but also took you inside humanity’s joy and sadness. Many of the images are etched in my memory still. Around the same time my sister was given an enlarger and we set up a darkroom in our attic when I was 11. Many years later I went to art school and worked for many years art directing and designing magazines, including Cook’s Illustrated and Yankee Magazine’s special Summer Travel issues.

Does your narrative photography often reflect your own experiences?

Mostly but not always. Different projects developed in different ways – often one thing leads to another. Taking on a project can be a great way to answer questions you have about someone or something that is outside your day-to-day life. You can encourage your own curiosity which I think is one of the healthiest things you can have. Two of my long-term projects were about one large thing but at the same time the underlying personal interest was to pursue why some people are terribly shy and others seemingly are not. 

How do you involve photography into your everyday life?

I am in my head a lot but always looking – at other photographers works, at movies, at people, at art. I love to wander through stores like Michael’s and Joann Fabrics looking for prop inspirations. 

What are the objectives of your class?

The class objective is to guide people towards illustrating the story they want to tell, and/or helping people figure out what it is that they want to work on. Myself – and the other students – will point out the strengths, patterns and themes that we see in each other’s work while also discussing what images might be missing and how to find them. After the class is over the Griffin museum will hold a zoom session for students to share the stories that they have worked on. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please join us online for an engaging look at narrative photography. The first class is February 14th, and runs through June 20th, 2023. For more information, look here on our education page for the details.

ABOUT MEG BIRNBAUM

Meg Birnbaum is a fine art photographer, designer and educator. She has had solo exhibitions in Kobe, Japan, the Davis Orton Gallery, NY, Panopticon Gallery, Boston, Corden Potts Gallery, San Francisco, the Griffin Museum of Photography, Lishui China, International Photography Festival, and at the Museum of Art Pompeo Boggio, Buenos Aires during the Biennial Encuentros Abiertos-Festival de la Luz. Her work has been juried into many national and international photography competitions. Birnbaum was an invited exhibitor at Flash Forward Festival 2011 in Boston and was nominated for the 2009 Santa Fe Prize for Photography.

Birnbaum taught illustration at Montserrat College of Art and has been teacher of the Photography Atelier classes at the Griffin Museum of Photography. Her work is held in the permanent collection of the Meditech Corporation, the Museum of Fine Art, Houston, the Lishui Museum of Photography in China and many private collections.

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Griffin State of Mind, Education Tagged With: Photography, Photography Education

Griffin State of Mind – Vicky Stromee

Posted on July 28, 2021

In today’s Griffin State of Mind, we feature Vicky Stromee. Her creative work, Envisioning Solitude, is on the walls of the Griffin until August 29th, 2021. We wanted to get to know more about Vicky and her work, so we asked her a few questions.

Tell us how you first connected to the Griffin Museum.

I met Paula in Portland at Photolucida. This was my first portfolio review and I really had no idea what to expect or how it worked. She was so kind in conversation. She was supportive of my work and encouraged me to stay in touch. Several years later she contacted me about doing an exhibition at one of the Griffin’s satellite sites where they had an unexpected cancellation. I had a show I had just taken down so I jumped at the chance to send off a crate of framed botanicals. My partner and I traveled to Boston for the opening and got such a warm welcome from Paula and the staff.  I remember seeing Jane Fulton Alt’s Burn series in one of the gallery spaces at the Griffin and falling in love with her work.  I’ve been a fan of the Griffin ever since.

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

vicky stromee studio

Vicky Stromee in her studio

I walk every morning with a good friend and our dogs and I carry my camera everywhere. I try to take pictures everyday – plants, animals, insects, patterns, and shadows – whatever catches my attention.  I’m pretty much in my studio every day where I build light experiments that I shoot for source images. I’m fortunate to have many rich connections with photographers – mostly through virtual connections on Facebook and Instagram, through my local ASMP chapter and an international group that I belong to – Shootapalooza. I have to say lately I’ve been following the work of Alanna Airitam – not only are her images beautifully executed (portraits and still lifes), but she is an impassioned and eloquent writer about her own journey as an artist and a person of color. I’m fascinated with the surreal qualities of Fran Forman’s work and the emotional explorations of Sandra Klein. I’m always inspired by Melanie Walker’s out of the box constructions and immersive installations. Annu Palakunnathu Mathew’s exploration of cross-cultural experience and invisibility also comes to mind.

Please tell us a little about your exhibition, Envisioning Solitude, and how it was conceived.

Vicky Stromee, “Capturing the Moon”, 2019.

Pattern and texture, light and shadow, movement and transformation –these are undercurrents that have dominated my explorations throughout my life. From an early interest in math and science, an education in literary criticism, my chosen profession in mental health and my interest in photography beginning at age 8, I have been fascinated with the continual processes of deconstruction and reconstruction, looking for what is eternal amidst the transitory.

I am interested in edges and intersections of transformation where one thing moves inexorably to become something else. When is the moment when love fades into anger and resentment; when disillusionment erupts into a violent uprising; when order descends into chaos? And when is the moment when war turns towards peace; unbearable grief shifts towards acceptance; or when pain gives way to relief?

In this series: “Envisioning Solitude,” I seek out close-up views of known objects to reveal patterns of color, texture and form, then capture these images and layer them together to create objects of meditation on that transformative process.  Central to this series is the image of the moon – a solitary celestial body reflecting the light of the sun. In mythology the moon is alternately a symbol of love, desire, change, passion, fertility, insanity, and violence. Often associated with the feminine, the nighttime illumination provided by the moon offers us a different perspective and cause for reflection.

Hear Vicky discuss Envisioning Solitude on the Griffin Museum YouTube channel In Their Own Words

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

Wow, that’s a tough question. I was moved by Jane Fulton Alt’s Burn work when I first saw it. Living at a distance, the experience of seeing images online is not the same as being in the room with the work.  That said, of recent note was Jerry Takigawa’s Balancing Cultures. My best friend in high school was second generation Japanese-American and I remember her frequently crying in front of the mirror because “she didn’t look like everyone else.” Both her parents had survived the internment camps. I’m also so fond of Patricia Bender’s work and loved Euclidian Dreams. I am amazed with the variety of exhibitions that the Griffin offers – often showcasing artists I am unfamiliar with. Paula and the Griffin are real treasures for the photographic community.

Jane Fulton Alt, “The Burn”, undated.

Jerry Takigawa, “Like Goes With Like”, undated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is your favorite place to escape to?

We have a 100+ yr old log cabin in the Pecos Wilderness of New Mexico – if I’m looking to just be – that’s the place. I lose track of time and can sit for hours listening to the river and watching the weather and the wildlife from the front porch. It is a place that brings me great peace. Beyond that, I love to travel and mostly to places that are so unfamiliar to me that it wakes up all my senses. India comes to mind as a favorite destination.

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

Most of the reading I do is of an academic nature. I do, however, listen to music when I’m working on images on the computer. I like a mix of jazz, blues, pop, world music – my current favorites are anything Taylor Swift, Adele, and Dua Lipa. My current visual obsession is watching the refracted early morning light that comes through the beveled glass window this time of year and fills the walls with rainbows.

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

First, I think James Hillman, a Jungian analyst. The conversation would be wide ranging and of a spiritual nature – about the soul’s progression, the meaning of existence, and where creativity comes from. If I could have a second option it would be to sit in on a gathering of the Bloomsbury Group (Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell, John Maynard Keynes, E. M. Forster and Lytton Strachey), of whom Dorothy Parker famously said: “they lived in squares, painted in circles and loved in triangles.” I would be content to just listen in to their conversations about life and art.

How do the people in your life influence your art?

Wow this could be a very long essay! Growing up our home was filled with gatherings of artists and scientists, rabbis and priests, and concerts with string quartets. I was surrounded by dancers, painters, musicians, photographers, actors, and philosophers. Art has always been a part of who I am.  I’ve explored a variety of mediums with many great teachers who have taught me so much about “seeing.”

When I was getting started as a fine art photographer many people told me I should go see Mary Virginia Swanson (who, lucky me, lives in Tucson). I guess I heard it enough that I set up a session with her. I brought my favorite prints and set them down on the table. I still remember the humbling moment as she rifled through my stack, sliding them quickly off the pile with “seen it, seen it, seen it,” and then a pause: “I haven’t seen this.” I began to take an interest in looking at my work as others might see it.

I have a tendency to fall in love with my most recent work and count on my wife and close friends to offer honest feedback and ask insightful questions. Through this process I have increasingly learned to step away from my work and view it as an outsider. I value their perspectives and hold that alongside my own resonance with a particular piece. These conversations and participating in critiques with mentors have helped me to cultivate my ability to see and reflect on my work.

Five years ago, we realized a dream with our best friends and created an artist compound with two houses and four studios. We are all artists in different mediums (author, painter, musician and photographer).  We often share long conversations about our latest projects, our hopes, and our challenges. Our home is filled with an eclectic mix of art that I draw inspiration from every day.

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Griffin State of Mind Tagged With: Griffin Gallery, Photography, griffin state of mind, conversations on photography, Photographers on Photography

Griffin State of Mind | Dana Smith

Posted on May 19, 2021

dna smith headshotWe are continuing our Griffin State of Mind series by introducing you to one of our newest instructors, Dana Smith. Dana will be teaching a workshop at the museum called Mastering Flash: An On-Location, Low-Frills Approach this summer. We hope you will join us in welcoming Dana to the Griffin community.

Tell us how you first connected to the Griffin Museum.

It’s impossible to be a member of the Boston photo community and not know about the Griffin. I’ve been a photography teacher for 20 years and the Griffin Museum has never ceased to be an invaluable resource for anyone learning, teaching, or loving photography.

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

wing shy

@Wing Shya

Fortunately it’s not something I ever have to try to do—it’s involuntary. From the minute I wake up to the moment I fall asleep my brain is thinking about pictures I’ve made, am hoping to make, or saw someone else make that I wish I had made or will eventually become capable of making. I never tire of the process and have yet to live a day where I didn’t want to create an image. As for artists that have inspired me lately, Wing Shya (Hong Kong) is someone that I’m constantly in awe of and whose work is a never-ending treasure trove of cinematic pageantry. While he’s hardly new his work never gets old.

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

smith architectureMy ‘low-frills’ flash class was designed to take the lighting panic out of on-location photography. Portable flash is a powerful tool but every minute spent futzing with equipment is a minute that could be spent engaging with your subject. The ability to combine strobe with natural/available light opens up so many visual possibilities and allows the photographer to utilize light to custom build their narrative and covey a meaningful story about their subject. As someone who makes a living as an editorial/magazine portrait photographer, nothing ever goes as planned and time is always of the essence. In this workshop we will learn to be resourceful (on the cheap) and work fluidly to create portraits that are beautiful, complex, and emotionally rich.

 

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

vernacular imageYears ago there was an exhibition that I can’t recall the name of but it featured the history of the ‘snapshot’ and vernacular photography. As someone who has built his career photographing people, I’ve realized that the soul of nearly every successful portrait is usually connected to something or someone that the viewer has known or seen in their own family photo albums. 

 

What is your favorite place to escape to?

I love Istanbul but the history, colors, and textures can be visually overwhelming so I can’t really call it an escape. I suppose I like to get lost on any left-behind Mainstreet, USA.

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

At the moment I can’t stop listening to an in-store reel-to-reel tape played within K-Mart stores in 1973. Yup, it’s exactly the kind of twisted time warp you’d imagine

springsteen

 

 

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

I’m obsessed with the art of storytelling and have been a Springsteen fan for as long as I can remember so I’d have to go with Bruce, but if he’s unavailable I’ll happily sit with Martin Scorsese.

 

 

About Dana Smith – 

Dana Smith has been a widely published photojournalist and editorial photographer for the past twenty-five years. He has worked with many top editors & art directors in the industry and has photographed for publications such as Time, Newsweek, New York Times Magazine, Forbes, Fortune, and Yankee. His photo-illustrations have been recently in the Washington Post and the Boston Globe.

To see more of Dana Smith‘s work visit his website. He is on Instagram @danasmith17

Filed Under: Griffin State of Mind, Education Tagged With: on camera flash, architectural photography, on location, flash, Photography, documentary photography, Griffin Museum Education, Faculty at the Griffin Museum

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: black and white, documentary photography, vintage photographs, Photography Education, Arthur Griffin Archive, Photography

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, black and white, documentary photography, Landscape, vintage photographs, Photography Education, Arthur Griffin Archive, New England

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

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

Posted on March 16, 2021

Boston Arts and Entertainment

By Madison Marone

AG Archive- Hatch shell
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Hatch Shell Boston Pops Concert: Boston, Massachusetts

Introduction

Arthur Griffin’s legacy lives on through the Griffin Museum of Photography. As an Exhibitions Assistant for the museum, I was struck by the beauty and historical value of his work. I’ve created this exhibition to highlight and provide context for Griffin’s photographs of 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.

AG Archive- outside of the museum
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Outside the Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, Massachusetts

This installment focuses on Boston’s arts and entertainment sector documented through Griffin’s photos. It is divided into three sections: music, fine arts, and theater. In the first section, we will be exploring the history of the two major orchestras in Boston: the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops. The second section covers the public’s interaction with the Museum of Fine Arts. The final section looks at the theater and live performances throughout the city. I’ve included video clips throughout this exhibit to provide additional context and bring each section to life.

Music

The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and the Boston Pops have long been recognized in the city’s music scene. BSO was founded in 1881, making it the second oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras. They are renowned for performing both classical and contemporary music. In 1885, the Boston Pops Orchestra was created as an offshoot of the BSO. They play light classical, popular music, and show tunes with the intention of making music more accessible to audiences. 

Both groups perform at Symphony Hall in Boston, however, for the Boston Pops the seating is reconfigured from an auditorium to cabaret-style. Each orchestra has alternative summer performance spaces. The BSO plays at the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center while the Boston Pops offers annual concerts at the Hatch Shell. The two conductors in Griffin’s photographs are Serge Koussevitzky (Boston Symphony Orchestra 1924-1949) and Arthur Fiedler (Boston Pops 1930-1949). They were influential music directors that helped the orchestras evolve to where they are today. Both orchestras have had a major effect on the Boston area by exposing generations to the joy of orchestral music.


If you would like to learn more and watch a performance, please see the following videos:

The Tanglewood Story (United States Information Services, 1949) includes Koussevitzky conducting and the history of Tanglewood Music Center. 

An Evening at Pops (PBS, 1978) includes highlights from the Pops Fourth of July show, interviews with Fiedler, Hatch Shell history, and features some of Griffin’s photographs. 


Griffin attended these performances as an audience member and photojournalist. His images of the orchestras were printed in the Boston Globe to help create excitement for their concerts. Photos include portraits of the conductors and establishing shots from the audience’s perspective. Details about his famous photo of the composer Paderewski can be found here: Arthur Griffin’s Image of Ignacy Paderewski. Griffin’s photos capture the energy of the musicians as they entertain and share music with people of all ages.

AG Archive- hatch at night
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Hatch Memorial Shell: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Boston Pops
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Arthur Fiedler conducting the Boston Pops Orchestra: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Hatch shell day
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Concert at the Hatch Shell: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Hatch shell with child
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Esplanade Concert: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Conductor 1
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Serge Koussevitzky conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Conductor 2
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Serge Koussevitzky conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Boston Symphony Orchestra
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Boston Symphony Orchestra: Boston, Massachusetts

Fine Arts

The Museum of Fine Arts was founded in 1870. It is a cultural and educational resource for visitors and locals alike. Visitors can see an array of artwork ranging from paintings to sculptures, textiles to ancient artifacts. Students have long visited the institution to sketch famous works of art and be inspired by what’s on display.


If you would like to take a look inside the museum, please see the following video:

A Visit to the Boston Fine Arts Museum (Bill A Graham, 2015) A montage of videos showing art on display at the MFA.


Griffin’s work captures the grandeur of this Boston landmark. In the following photographs, visitors are enjoying art and exploring the exhibit halls. Additional photos show the efforts that go on behind the scenes to create magnificent displays for the public to enjoy.

AG Archive- MFA monument
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Appeal to the Great Spirit Monument outside of the Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Visitors at the MFA
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Children at the MFA
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Exploring the Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Students at the MFA
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Students at the Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Inside the MFA
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- fashion exhibit at MFA
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Preparing the exhibit: Boston, Massachusetts

Theater

Boston is a vibrant city with a large performing arts scene. In the 1940s, the city had over 50 theaters. Washington Street Theater District was a central location with an array of performance venues and restaurants. The buildings in this district include the Boston Opera House, the Paramount Theater, and The Colonial Theater. Famous performers and popular shows often toured in Boston ranging from musicals and experimental theater to vaudeville shows.


If you would like to learn more about theatre in Boston, please see the following videos:

Boston Uncovered: Emerson College’s Colonial Theatre (City of Boston, 2019) Kit Haggard, Director of the Boston Literary District, discusses the Boston production circuit and the evolution of Oklahoma at the Colonial Theatre.

#MyColonial (Emerson Colonial Theatre, 2018) Celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Harvey Fierstein celebrate the reopening of the Colonial Theatre by sharing how it has impacted them. The video highlights Boston’s influence on the theatre world at large.


Griffin’s photography helped promote interest in the theater scene. He documented the artists backstage and during performances. These glamorous and thrilling images were printed in the Boston Globe, creating excitement around the shows. The following photos feature the bright lights of the theater district and the performers who brought it to life.

AG Archive- Washington Street
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Washington Street Theater District: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- On stage
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
During the show: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- costume change
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Backstage costume change: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Arthur Treacher and showgirls
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Arthur Treacher with performers 1943: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- Milton Bearl and performer backstage
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
Milton Bearl backstage during the 1943 production of Ziegfeld Follies: Boston, Massachusetts
AG Archive- performers on stage
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved “Cheesecake Girls” Performance: Boston, Massachusetts

Final Thoughts

AG Archive- Boston at night
Photo by Arthur Griffin, © Griffin Museum of Photography, All rights reserved
The City at Night: Boston, Massachusetts

Music, fine arts, and theater are an important part of the cultural fabric of our society. Griffin’s photos illuminate the arts and entertainment sector by giving us a glimpse behind the scenes, and through the eyes of audiences that have enjoyed them. The photos in this exhibit remind us of the many enriching experiences that these institutions provide. I look forward to a time in the near future when we can gather and enjoy art together once more.

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:

“The History of the BSO Boston Symphony Orchestra.” Boston Symphony Orchestra, www.bso.org/brands/bso/about-us/historyarchives/the-history-of-the-bso.aspx.

“A Brief History of the Boston Pops Boston Symphony Orchestra.” Boston Pops, www.bso.org/brands/pops/about-us/historyarchives/the-history-of-the-boston-pops.aspx.

 “Serge Koussevitzky.” New World Encyclopedia, www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Serge_Koussevitsky.

 “The Tanglewood Story.” YouTube, United States Information Services, 1949, youtu.be/WNBqpGoW7fU.

 “An Evening at Pops: July 4 1977.” YouTube, PBS, 1978, youtu.be/tVnfXy0v7kc.

 “About the MFA.” Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, www.mfa.org/about.

 Graham, Bill A, director. A Visit to the Boston Fine Arts Museum. YouTube, 9 Dec. 2015, youtu.be/qW5p90m7O7U.

“Boston Uncovered: Emerson College’s Colonial Theatre.” YouTube, City of Boston, 14 Mar. 2019, youtu.be/I2i9yk212p0.

 “#MyColonial.” YouTube, Emerson Colonial Theatre, 11 July 2018, youtu.be/3w4USeUahAo.

 Guide, Boston Discovery. Boston Theater Guide – Theatre District Venues, Shows, Tickets, Discounts – Boston Discovery Guide, www.boston-discovery-guide.com/boston-theater.html.

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: Arthur Griffin Archive, New England, Photography, black and white, Boston, documentary photography, vintage photographs, Photography Education

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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