Photographer's Notes: A Multicultural Landscape at Higgins Gallery

“In a democracy, the highest office is the office of citizen.” — Felix Frankfurter, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

Read the Photographer's Notes in the Falmouth Bulletin.

Please support our fundraising to print and distribute The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape to the libraries and schools in the 351 towns and cities in the state, as well as to each participant in the book, via MIRA.

"We don't see in black and white, we see in color; so black and white is already an anomaly for us, right?"

Mark Chester Interviewed by Paul Falcone for Wellesley Media

The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape, Photographs of New Americans at the Wellesley Free Library July and August 2018.

Marilyn Monroe is still good for business

"Death is big business. If only we could live to enjoy its benefits."

Happy Independence Day to all new Americans — Exhibition at Wellesley Library July & August

Wellesley Free Library

The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape 

Photographs of New Americans 

Mark Chester

This exhibit of inspirational portraits, presented by photographer Mark Chester, offers a moving display of more than 400 newly naturalized U.S. citizens who hail from over 190 of the 196 countries and territories around the globe and are now residents of the Commonwealth.

The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape, Photographs of New Americans may be viewed throughout July and August at the Wellesley Free Library located at 530 Washington Street. Hours are Monday through Thursday 9AM-9PM; Friday 9AM-6PM; and Saturday 9AM-5PM.

“This photographic essay conveys the many faces of immigrants in our American society. It captures the fact that the strength of America is the extremely varied background of our citizens. We should cherish this process and continue to nourish it. In this photo essay, “immigrant” becomes “U.S. citizen,” and we better understand the importance of naturalization which often gets overlooked in the broader dialogue of immigration matters. Congratulations to Mark.”

               — Honorable William P. Joyce, Immigration Judge, U.S. Immigration Court (retired)

The Mark Chester Diversity Project has developed a new educational program, “Faces of America:” Teaching Tolerance to Massachusetts’ Elementary Schools. The program will utilize Chester’s exhibit of photographs of new Americans and his companion book as well as complementary classroom activities and lesson plans. “Faces of America,” which is launching with a pilot program for the Falmouth Public Schools, is designed to help students to understand that differences in viewpoint and culture are to be cherished and appreciated rather than judged and feared. The project will provide the opportunity for students to develop their own cultural identity while appreciating the vast variety of ethnicities that make up their state.

As President John F. Kennedy said, “Everywhere, immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life.”

Welcome to The Villages, Florida's friendliest hometown

"Golf cart sales are big business in this community of nearly 110,000 residents within an area of 32 square miles. It is the preferred transportation vehicle."

Wall of Fame: My days at the ASCAP

"Often I spoke with concerned pet owners who mistakenly called the wrong number to report mistreatment to dogs or cats."

"Colleagues like Peter Burke in Los Angeles arranged many photography opportunities, such as the recording session of Neil Diamond’s 'Cracklin Rosie' hit, documenting songwriters Marilyn and Alan Bergman at their California home, among others. Above he is pictured with Stevie Wonder and fan in Atlantic City."

The House of Seven Gables

The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape enjoyed its winter stay at The House of Seven Gables in Salem. 

Read more about the exhibit in the excellent piece by Terry Date in the Salem News:

Chester found Fitzroy Alexander, 54, at a ceremony at the Immigrant Learning Center Inc. in Malden, where he was recognized as the Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014.

Alexander came to the U.S. at 16 years old and became a citizen 25 years ago. He’s the owner of Traditional Breads Inc., in Lynn, and employs 150 people.

Alexander said America means opportunity for those who work hard.

“It’s a land of opportunity — if you put your mind to it, anything is possible,” he said.

Alexander said he is biased toward Chester, a friend, and he holds Chester’s photo project in high esteem.

“I applaud it — having the stamina and integrity to really portray that person how he sees them,” Alexander said.

Fitzroy Alexander, Grenada, The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape Copyright © Mark Chester

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, 1970, Garden State Arts Center, NJ

Debbie was a friend of our family. My mother and she were good friends. When I was 23, I went to California dreaming of being a TV comedy writer. Ha! I was a houseguest in her Beverly Hills home in 1968. I will always remember everyone glued to the news of Robert Kennedy’s assassination. It was a traumatic time. I was in Hollywood, the ultimate limbo land, feeling like the Benjamin Braddock character in The Graduate film. The Vietnam War was escalating. Debbie helped me become an intern for TV host, writer, comedian, musician, Steve Allen, a role model of mine. I will always be grateful for her thoughtfulness and friendship; she was a positive influence on the path I eventually followed in becoming a photojournalist. Her passing one day after Carrie, who I remember as a precocious, cute, funny, easy going 14-year-old-going-on-20 girl, is a beautiful blessing in that she didn’t have to continue living with grief. Debbie will always be part of my life. Blessings to you both.

The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape on Patronicity

Patronicity Campaign Launch: The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape | Photographs of New Americans by Mark Chester

Monochrome: Black & White Photography from the Permanent Collection

D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts,  Springfield Museums

March 22, 2016–September 25, 2016

"Black and white photography, also known as ‘monochrome’ photography, originated during the mid-nineteenth century and has pervaded to this day, particularly within the genre of documentary photography. This exhibit, drawn from the permanent collection of the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, explores the documentary photography genre, juxtaposed with the special exhibit, Photo-Secession: Painterly Masterworks of turn-of-the-Century Photography. Photography critic in the 1970s, John Szarkowski, distilled images down to two categories, “mirrors and windows” stating that “mirrors reveal information about the artist while windows tell more about the world.” This exhibit exemplifies his philosophy and underscores the impact of black and white which elevates a picture beyond simply being “news”; monochrome photography has the power to suggest cultural and critical significance."

Mark Chester in Monochrome

 

NBAM HERITAGE GALLERY INSTALLATION

THE BAY STATE: A MULTICULTURAL LANDSCAPE OPENS IN NEW BEDFORD

The exhibit runs through March 20th. See the events listing for details.