Artists Explore Their Worlds through the Camera Lens

Capturing Our Worlds
Works by the Springfield Photographic Society
June 26, 2021–June 26, 2022
D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts

The Springfield Museums present Capturing Our Worlds: Works by the Springfield Photographic Society, on view June 26, 2021–June 26, 2022 in the Community Gallery of the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts.

Featuring more than thirty works by members of the Springﬁeld Photographic Society, this exhibition traverses countless miles in subject matter and illustrates a range of approaches to photography. In addition to images from Western Massachusetts, there are photographs taken in Lebanon, Peru, and Vietnam. The images explore nature, humanity, beauty, form, and visual rhythm.

“This exhibition includes work by eighteen local artists,” said Maggie North, Curator of Art for the Springfield Museums. “The images on view are informed by the unique perspectives and techniques of these photographers, but they also speak to the common human experience of navigating the world in which we all live. There are photographs that depict conversations between friends, highlight the beauty of nature, and call attention to extraordinary moments in everyday life.”

The exhibit features three approaches to navigating the world—What We Do, Where We Go and What We Seek. In describing What We Do, members of the Springﬁeld Photographic Society showcase observations of people socializing, riding bicycles, working, creating, and conversing with one another.

In exploring ideas about Where We Go, the artists capture landscapes near and far. These images, which range from intimate to sublime, demonstrate that a daily walk to work or a visit to a favorite locale can be as meaningful as an international voyage.

In thinking about What We Seek, artists oﬀer visual ruminations on the distinctively human search for meaning, joy and comfort, as well as the photographer’s desire to capture the perfect moment.

“Throughout the exhibition, the power of images to transcend borders and languages, and to highlight the universal within the speciﬁc, is celebrated,” said Heather Haskell, Vice President of the Springfield Museums and Director of the Art Museums.

The Springfield Museums have hosted Community Gallery exhibitions since 2000. From 1979 through 1999 the Museums presented Art Scene exhibitions that also featured the work of Western Massachusetts artists.

“We are one of the few museums in the country that supports local emerging and mid-career artists through a dedicated exhibition space and have offered the first major exhibition opportunity to nationally recognized artists such as Brother Thomas Bezanson, Shimon Okshteyn, and Janet Rickus,” Haskell said.

More about the Springfield Photographic Society

Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Springfield Photographic Society is an organization supportive of photographers working at all experience levels. Through exhibitions, field trips, and educational experiences, members hone their craft in the company of fellow enthusiasts. Although their specific approaches differ, the Society’s members share a passion for capturing their surroundings and sharing moments in time with a wider audience. The following members are represented in this exhibition: