What Was Old Is Now New: Artists/Friends Join In Belmont Gallery of Art Show

The Belmont Gallery of Art presents the New/Old Group, a photography exhibit featuring the work of artists Elaine Fisher, Eric Myrvaagnes and A. David Wunsch, Jan. 25 through Feb. 24.

The show’s opening reception takes place Friday, Jan. 25, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Photographers Fisher, Myrvaagnes and Wunsch have exhibited widely and had individual shows during their separate artistic careers, but this is the first time the three will be showing their work together, somewhat surprising, considering the long connection they have to one another.

Elaine Fisher, Eric Myrvaagnes and A. David Wunsch share a special bond that goes back almost 50 years to 1966 when they first met as young photography students in a workshop taught by noted American photographer and MIT professor Minor White.

White, a contemporary of Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, embraced the creative idea that even mundane subject matter could be elevated to art by the quality of light in which it was photographed. He had a strong influence on his young students, says Fisher, and encouraged them to “find our way by quietly observing our individual truth."

While sharing this common foundation to making art, the three friends’ photographic styles and approaches are varied: Belmont resident Wunsch has continued working in black and white documenting place with a 4 X 5 view camera;

Fisher, who lives in Cambridge, has worked in digital color photography for years, seeking emotional metaphor through her images; and Myrvaagnes of Newton, also working digitally, searches for how shape or form and quality of light evoke emotion.

"We hope that an exhibition such as this one will show how fellow photographers can create a bond that allows them to encourage and educate each other.” said Fisher. 

“We also hope to live up to the group’s name – old friends, constantly creating anew.”

The Belmont Gallery of Art is located in the Town Hall Complex, third floor of the Homer Bldg., 19 Moore St. a block from Belmont Center.

Hours for the "New/Old Group" show are Thursday, and Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Please visit the Belmont Gallery of Art’s website for more information. The gallery is wheelchair accessible.

Since opening its doors in July 2005, the Belmont Gallery of Art has presented more than 50 shows featuring the work of dozens of local and regional artists. It hasoffered a professional architecturally significant place for artists to display theirwork and visitors to view such work. The recipient of a Gold Star Award from theMass Cultural Council, the BGA has been praised throughout the community forits support and promotion of the arts and culture in Belmont.