Sydney and Deirdre
The meadow, the bay, the pews in the church, ‘stuff’ in the Wachsmuth boathouse, pots and pans in our kitchen – the images in Deidre Purcell’s “Oysterville Series I” exhibition are oh so familiar. And, for me anyway, they were a compelling new look at my everyday life as seen in black and white and through the eyes and lens of a remarkable photographer.
Last night was the artist’s reception for the exhibit which will be in place at the Camerawork Gallery in Portland through June 26th. There were refreshments, live music by the Swingmasters and people I knew including Kuzzin Kris but, even so, it was hard to look anywhere other than at the photographs. And every time I looked I saw another well-known nook or cranny and was again surprised that Deidre had seen it, too. Not only ‘seen it,’ but captured it for others to enjoy and remark upon.
At Cameraworks Gallery
And, in the ‘remarks department’ – what fun it was to listen to viewers as they looked and commented! “Look at that photograph! It could have been taken a hundred years ago!” It was a close-up of our mantle with the Crellins and my great-grandfather in attendance. And, yes, it could indeed have been a century ago as those who know my never-changing-décor could verify.
I was surprised, too, at how many folks had been to Oysterville “once – long ago” and remembered the bay or the cypress trees or the old houses. I had the passing fancy that Deirdre’s images lead to memories that might not even have been grounded in fact. The Oysterville of her exhibit are of a real-yet-imagined place that we’ve all been to, somehow.
By Deirdre Purcell
And yet… I’ve scrubbed those very pots and pans and sharpened those very knives. My Oysterville? Deidre’s Oysterville? Fantasy Oysterville? All of the above.
We ooohed and aaahed and schmoozed but I didn’t get enough. I will be back before the exhibit comes down. And I’m already looking forward to Series II. And to the book! Surely there will be a book…
How very cool, and strange, not to mention a little eerie, to see one’s surroundings as artifacts.