In keeping with the All Hollow’s Eve theme of October, The Chamber Gallery will display the photography exhibit, “Grave Images by Julie Esty,” which focuses on cemetery art and culture.
The opening reception will be held Saturday, Oct. 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the gallery, located in The Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Building, 27 North Main St., Carbondale. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. The exhibition will run from Oct. 19 through Nov. 10.
Sandra Anderson will perform at the opening reception with her original songs of spirit to complete the experiential evening.
“Julie Esty has an intrinsic eye for atmosphere, which is the hallmark of her distinctive creative artistry, particularly within her chosen environment – the cemetery, a place of sacred contemplation, solemnity and timelessness, where past and present merge in the silence of remembrance and respect,” said Ruthanne Jones, Chamber Gallery director. “These ‘Grave Images’ are the markers and milestones of the lives lived whether in happy fulfillment and completion, or tragedy, loss or in struggle. Each grave tells a story – a coming into the world and a leave-taking.
“The beautiful photographs bare witness and testament to both the living and the beloved who have passed and capture, through Julie’s lens and heart, the sublime architectural art of these monuments and the life of the landscaped nature of tranquility and mystery which surrounds the sacred grounds of remembrance.”
No stranger to the arts community, Julie is the founder of the Dearly Departed Players. Her original theatrical/historical works are presented annually in the successful Dunmore Cemetery Tour. In the tour off-months, Julie returns to her original artistic passion of photography. Initially taking camera in hand and spending endless hours in a darkroom in the 1980s, she was a winner in many Kodak KINSA competitions and local and national contests. Sidetracked along the way by her passion for local history, her camera was set aside. On return to the medium, she discovered the days of film and darkrooms had gone digital. Adapting to a new medium has been a challenge. Cameras have become so high tech. For this reason, Julie prefers to work with a broken Nikon point and shoot. Her haunting images of cemeteries combine her love of history and photography seamlessly.
In addition to her artistic endeavors with camera in hand or in the cemetery producing a tour, Julie has written four local history publications – “Stories in Stone,” Volumes I and II, and “Murder in Scranton.” Her most recent publication, “Baked with Love, Recipes from the Scranton Republican’s Cooking Contest by the Women Who Made Them,” pays tribute to the women in the area’s past and the recipes they shared with their families. The Oct. 19 event will also include a book signing.
Admission to The Chamber Gallery is free, and it is open weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit The Chamber Gallery on Facebook.