By Lauren Schiavone
Hometown Weekly Staff
Westwood Public Library has become an excellent locale for local art lovers; the space houses many art exhibits on its lobby’s walls by the meeting room and conference room. These exhibits allow the community to appreciate the creative ingenuity coming from their neighbors.
A new show, on display through the end of the month, displays Sean Riley’s photography. With over fifty years behind a camera, Riley delights in finding magic and capturing it. His “People and Places” encapsulates everyday life from a new perspective. Daily life can get monotonous, but only if you let it — and Riley’s angles and framing keep things interesting.
In terms of the “places”, the subject matter spans from local lighthouses and ships to cityscapes. In terms of “people”, weddings, city shoots, and headshots grace the walls.
Photos such as “Old Stone Church”, taken from across the Wachusett Reservoir, frame a gorgeous moment that Riley willingly shares with viewers.
A shadowed husband and bride in the photo “Love Is in the Air” depict Riley’s knack for contrast.
“The concept behind this exhibit is to give people an opportunity to get a different perspective on what we typically don’t see during the day or night,” Riley explained in his artist statement, sharing that most of the photos were taken from the hours of 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
One photo, “Minot Light after a hurricane with friends”, astounds with raging waves. Birds dart by and a lighthouse stands in solitude. Riley’s ability to incorporate such things, and in such conditions, is a noteworthy talent. He poses the question, “How often do you take time to look around and take in the view?”
Views such as the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Bridge (aka Salt and Pepper Bridge) flourish in lowlight nighttime settings. The duskiness of the sky compliments streetlights, which reflect off of the water. Riley’s storytelling ability through photography is evident in each moment he shares with viewers of “People and Places”.
Until recently, Riley’s work was shot entirely on film. The process of setting up a shoot is sacred to each photographer and reveals much about the process. “About eight years ago, I purchased my first digital camera from a friend,” Riley explained. “Even though it was used, I got the bug back in me to see what we could come up with.”
The result is a wonderful array of photos, spanning across Boston, of people and places that make it feel like home.
“People and Places” will be on display at the Westwood Public Library through the end of the month of December.
