Carriage Barn Opens 46th Annual Juried Photography Show on Saturday [Q&A]

The Carriage Barn Arts Center opens its 46th Annual Juried Photography Show this weekend, with a reception scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday. It runs Jan. 31 to March 5. The exhibition juror is Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr., executive director of The Gordon Parks Foundation. Special events include “The Legacy of Gordon Parks,” presented by Kunhardt Feb. 10, and “Flashes Of Brilliance,” a Feb. 25 presentation and book signing with author Akina Burgess.

We put some questions to Carriage Barn Executive Director Hilary Wittmann ahead of the opening.

Here’s our exchange.

***

Part of the Carriage Barn Arts Center’s 46th Annual Juried Photography Show

New Canaanite: Forty-six years is a long time for any show to run. What makes the annual photography show so popular?

Hilary Wittmann: Photography has become an indispensable part of contemporary life, influencing how we perceive and interact with the world. The Carriage Barn’s very first show was in 1977, so this is one of our longest-running annual exhibitions. It’s also one of our two major juried exhibitions, meaning that each year we invite someone with expertise and a unique viewpoint to select the images to be included. It’s become extremely competitive over the years to be accepted into and exhibit work in this annual exhibition.

Part of the Carriage Barn Arts Center’s 46th Annual Juried Photography Show

Talk to us about the show in general. Who can submit and what are the criteria used in judging?

Anyone can submit their photographs for consideration, and every year we get upwards of 600 submissions from professional, amateur and student photographers. All styles, subject matter and photographic mediums are considered, and depending on the juror and their particular focus, the show always has a unique feel.

Part of the Carriage Barn Arts Center’s 46th Annual Juried Photography Show

Tell us about this year’s show specifically. Who is the juror and what are some of the special events planned during the exhibition run?

I’m excited that this year we connected with Peter Kunhardt Jr, who’s the Executive Director of The Gordon Parks Foundation to jury the exhibition. Parks was a pioneering photographer, known for his images of African-American social history and the civil rights movement. On staff at Life Magazine for over 20 years, he saw photography as a means to achieve equality and change lives. 

About his selections for this year’s show, Kunhardt issued this statement: “While I selected a variety of subjects, the documentary pictures had the most impact on me. Everyday people on the streets, in protest, gathering, posing, and children laughing all showed humanity and dignity that the photographers were able to capture. Gaining trust with your subject is very hard and capturing that trust is even harder. A picture needs to tell a story and there are many strong examples in this selection.”

Part of the Carriage Barn Arts Center’s 46th Annual Juried Photography Show

In addition to the opening reception on Jan. 31, we’re hosting a reception and lecture with Peter Kunhardt on Feb. 10 on the legacy of Gordon Parks and work of the foundation in advancing his vision. We’re also excited to welcome author and New York Times photo editor Aniak Burgess to talk about her new book Flashes of Brilliance on Feb. 25. It explores the fascinating early history of photography and Anika will be in conversation with photographer Jane Bieles. 

What would you say to a casual appreciator of art/photography about this show who lives in New Canaan and hasn’t been before?

We hope that anyone and everyone will come see this exhibition at the Carriage Barn — it’s an opportunity to appreciate and see how these photographers have chosen to capture and document the world we’re all living in. There are just over 100 images included in the exhibition, and most are also available for sale.