Fitchburg Art Museum

Earlier this month, I attended the opening reception for several new exhibits at the Fitchburg Art Museum. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I’d never been to the museum before. My visit definitely exceeded my expectations! The turn-out for the event was quite good, and many of the artists were available to discuss their work.

I was most interested in viewing the Ansel Adams photography exhibit, with much of the work shown in Fitchburg having never previously been displayed. The curator did a fabulous job pulling together a comprehensive selection of images from a sailing journey taken by Adams and a colleague in 1940. For those familiar with Adams’ more famous work, be aware that this collection is geared towards photographs of the people and sailing vessel involved with the trip rather than sweeping natural landscapes. However, there were a few shots somewhat representative of a more typical Adams style, including some mesmerizing images of patterns created in the water by the boat’s wake.

Several other exhibits opened in conjunction with the “headliner” Adams exhibit. Frank Gohlke’s photographs from along the Sudbury River continued the natural photography theme, depicting a variety of scenes along the river throughout all four seasons. Gohlke juxtaposed scenic images with more jarring ones, such as a photograph of a discarded wheelchair rusting in the river. A third and final newly-opened exhibit featured illustrations from a variety of children’s books. It served as an interesting reminder that talented artists often present their work in unlikely places – as someone who does not have children, it’s not often that I take the time to view the images put forth in children’s books! I was most struck by the incredibly detailed sketches of Gordon Morrison. The focus of Morrison’s work was the natural world, which served as a fitting tie-in with the Adams and Gohlke exhibits.

In addition to the current special exhibits, the Fitchburg Art Museum also features a variety of other collections and offers an impressive selection of art classes for people of all ages. I’d highly recommend a visit!