“Inside Astoria”

Last night we went to the opening reception for “Inside Astoria”—our friend Michael Mathers’ photography exhibit at the Maritime Museum. We were early but, even so, as we walked into the gallery space, we felt that all of Astoria was right there, inside the museum! What a turn-out! And what an exhibition!

Michael and Petra Mathers

Michael has been working on his “Inside Astoria” project for more than a year. Maybe it’s even been two years. His premise was simple. He wanted to go inside of various spaces in Astoria – homes, businesses, public buildings – and take photographs of what he saw looking outward. He took hundreds – probably thousands of photographs. I think he told us some time ago that the Maritime Museum exhibit was going to include more than 400 images.

People were clotted around every display panel, pointing and exclaiming. Even arguing about where Michael had been to get this shot or that angle. Some people recognized their own homes. Or their dog or their cat. (There were proprietary-looking pets to be seen here and there – but few images of people.) Others speculated – “Is that what he took from our guest bedroom?” or “I don’t remember it being so rainy that day…”

Carol Newman (Ms. KMUN Arts Live & Local) and Nyel

We worked our way toward a central display that had a wonderful continuous-loop-slow-motion display happening. We, and everyone else in proximity, were mesmerized. It was like watching an Astoria lovefest through the eyes of a consummate paramour.

Surprisingly, we knew many of the people there, and not only those from our side of the river. Despite the storm raging outside, “Inside Astoria” drew the multitudes. I’m sure it will continue to do so. We, for two, certainly intend to go back!