"The lawn was like a hay field" at the ALL's Greenwald Gallery
Exciting news! My project, "The lawn was like a hay field," will be showcased at the Arts League of Lowell's Greenwald Gallery starting on April 24th! Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, April 27th, at 3pm. The reception is of course free and open to the public.
I'm presenting photographs that I created when I was a teenager in the small town in which I was born and raised, juxtaposed with ones that I made there in the last couple of years. It’s a story filled with memories of growing up in that time and place, and how we've both changed and stayed the same.
As I was working on my book, "The lawn was like a hay field", I knew that I would eventually want to show this work in a gallery setting. So when the Greenwald Gallery opportunity presented itself I knew that it would be a perfect fit. The Greenwald, an intimate space within the encompassing Arts League of Lowell's bright and airy coop gallery, allows the viewer to interact with the art on a very personal basis.
At the reception, and for the run of the show, the soft-cover edition of my book, The lawn was like a hay field, will be available from the gallery. It’s also available here.
Where is the Arts League of Lowell?
307 Market Street, Lowell, MA 01852
From Route 3 North or South, or from I-495: Take the Lowell Connector to Thorndike Street. (Exit 5B). Follow Thorndike and continue on Dutton Street. Turn left on Market Street.
The ALL is on the right in the red brick Gates Block building. The gallery is just inside the main entrance.
Parking
There is some on-street, metered parking near the gallery, but the HCID Parking Facility, at 350A Dutton Street is a 6 minute walk. To get to the gallery from there, follow the signs toward, and past the National Park Visitor's Center, then turn left onto Market Street. Cross Dutton Street at the light and the ALL is the second building on the right.
(click here for a map to this garage)
About ALL
ALL was founded in the Fall of 2003 and held its first monthly meeting in January of 2004. With the help of its members, sponsors, and patrons, ALL fosters and celebrates creativity and artistic expression in Lowell and the surrounding areas. Click here to learn more.
United Teen Equality Center - Chipping Away
After more that 6 months, I am thrilled to finally unveil my personal project, United Teen Equality Center - Chipping Away. Since May of this year, I have had the privilege to work with Lowell, Massachusetts' United Teen Equality Center to create portraits of the young people and to document the invaluable work that is done there, in the form of a photographic body of work and a short film.
The work will be on display beginning with the center's Grand Opening event, and will remain on display in the common areas of the new building into the future.
Networking and the Photographer
For a while now I have been working on a self-assigned project to photograph people in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. One of several goals of the project is to show the work in an exhibit that I will be doing with painter and pastel artist Bill Tyers. That goal, along with the always-present desire and requirement to expand my portfolio, has allowed me to meet and be introduced to many people whom I may not have otherwise met. For this I have utilized several of my networks. A few of my subjects were either part of, or were introduced to me by members of some of the business networking groups that I belong to in Lowell, Chelmsford and Westford, Massachusetts. Other meetings came about as a result of simply asking clients and Twitter contacts if they would pose, and if they could think of other people who might make interesting subjects and might pose as well.
One such person, referred to me in the latter category, was Fru Nkimbeng, originally of Cameroon, and now President of the African Cultural Association of Lowell. The association puts on the Lowell African Festival along the river each year, and which took place just last weekend. Fru works in Information Technology, so between our common experiences in that and our short conversation in French upon first meeting, I think the trepidations that Fru had in my photographing him were lessened. But being very active in the local African community, we both thought that he should be shown in traditional dress of Cameroon. For a photographer, the oranges, reds and blues in his garments were a gift.
If you are a photographer, and you like to photograph people, but don't know whom to ask, my advice is to just start somewhere. Ask that first person if they will pose and then ask if they might know other interesting people who would also be interested in posing. Keep doing that and after a while you will have a very long list. Networks work for more than just getting referrals for business in the traditional way.
Westford Fine Art and Craft – 4 Artists – 8 Weeks --- The Westford Eagle
The Westford Eagle has just published an article concerning our show.
Please check it out: http://tinyurl.com/59vuu2
Westford Fine Art and Craft – 4 Artists – 8 Weeks --- The Reception
A special thanks to Frank Winters (http://bystander.smugmug.com/, http://frankwinters.wordpress.com/) for lending the following images that he shot at last Saturday's reception. The official opening and reception for Westford Fine Art and Craft – 4 Artists – 8 Weeks, at Le Gourmet Jardin, at 40 Main Street in Westford, was really very successful. Many familiar faces were there as well as many people who were introduced to the artists and to Marie Doctor's shop.
The show, featuring the work of Westford artists, Gail Flannery, Alice Phalen, Frank Winters and me, Adrien Bisson continues at Le Gourmet Jardin through the end of the year. Get directions here. Le Jardin Gourmet is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All of the photos shown in this post were kindly supplied by Frank Winters (http://bystander.smugmug.com/, http://frankwinters.wordpress.com/)
Westford Fine Art and Craft – 4 Artists – 8 Weeks
This month and next, November and December 2008, I will be honored to have my fine art work presented along with that of three other superb Westford artists, Gail Flannery, Alice Phalen and Frank Winters at Le Gourmet Jardin, at 40 Main Street in Westford. The show, called Westford Fine Art and Craft – 4 Artists – 8 Weeks, began the first of November and runs through the end of December, with a reception to be held at Le Gourmet Jardin, 40 Main Street, on Saturday, November 15, between 12:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Here are some shots of Marie's shop and the show, followed by Frank's beautiful postcard announcing the event. See you there!
