Eileen Brady Nelson has been drawn to books,
libraries, and independent bookstores for as long as she can remember.
Her photographs of books, old and new, as well as some book ephemera, will be
on exhibit at the Piermont Public Library in Piermont, NY, from February 2
through February 26. An opening reception was held on Sunday,
February 3, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Eileen Brady Nelson is a fine art photographer
and educator, as well as a specialist in historical and alternative
processes. Her work has been
internationally exhibited and collected. She has held the position of adjunct
professor at Marymount Manhattan College and Rockland Community College. Eileen also teaches workshops in her studio
in Piermont, at Rockland Center for the Arts and in France. She has a BFA from Queens College, and has
done postgraduate work at The International Center of Photography, Pratt
Institute and Universita’ di Firenze. Her work can be seen online at www.eileenbradynelson.com, www.apertureimages.org, www.gettyone.com, www.allensheppardgallery.com
and www.piermontlibrary.org/events/exhibit-book-endangered-species-photography-exhibi/
Having lived in Piermont for the past 22 years she has had a long
relationship with the library and has volunteered to photograph events for the
Friends of the Library whenever asked. She is a
past recipient of two New York State Arts Grants administered by the Arts
Council of Rockland, one of which funded the 2005 “Spanish Alphabet
Project” that was hosted by the old Piermont Library on the hill. This project
got rave reviews from the community and involved local children, some of whom
were inspired to continue in photography through their college years. The
project provided young people with an introduction to 4x5 view camera, film photography
and the means by which to illustrate a visual Spanish alphabet.
“The Book” exhibition pays homage to books of
the past that were beautifully designed, printed, and bound, and read over and
over again! Some became cherished heirlooms. Eileen photographed
these books in a natural light, which makes them seem to glow from within.
Viewing them inspires many memories and makes one question how the new world of
electronic publishing will ever replace them. Eileen is
engaged in an ongoing project of photographing adults with their favorite
children’s book. She has long been
fascinated by the question of what it is about a particular book, story or
fable that makes such an impression on the child that it lasts a lifetime, and asked several friends to share passages from their favorite children’s book
with us at the opening.
