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Boston Globe

Juried exhibition at Griffin Museum features photographers diverse in sensibility and style

It's in the nature of juried shows to be diverse in form and content. That makes sense, since it's in the nature of photographers to be diverse in sensibility and style. Trying to find patterns or themes here verges on parlor game — or delusion. But here goes — Advertisement Birds appear in no fewer than five photographs: Joe has his back turned to the camera. That motif also appears in Advertisement Susan Keiser, "Barbaric Glass, No. 5116." Susan Keiser A turned back can be construed as a form of concealment. Concealment as a condition figures in Judi Iranyi, "My mother and I," 2023. Judi Iranyi The face painted on a facade in Cynthia Smith's 'Drawn Curtain' is partly concealed. What's more notable, though, is her stare. Watching, if not quite staring, also features in Vanessa R. Thompson, "Watching," 2022. Vanessa R. Thompson You don't like watching? How about floating — or at least its appearance. A branch seems to do so in Alison Lake, "Engulfed Lamp, Montreal, Canada," 2018. Alison Lake Montreal is one of several specific locations or sites mentioned in the show. In addition to Larason's South Station, they include Advertisement Obviously, Robin Bailey, "3941 Jacob Street — Wheeling, WV," 2025. Robin Bailey The art-oriented photographs tend not to draw on photography. Exceptions include is very Advertisement Alina Saranti, "Far From #5," 2023. Alina Saranti Adams, along with such forebears as Carleton Watkins, Timothy O'Sullivan, and William Henry Jackson brings us to The effect of the stitching isn't just subversive conceptually. It's also subversive tactilely — photographs, unlike thread, aren't meant to be touched (that's why they're displayed under glass). It's also subversive visually. When red, the thread harkens to blood, when white to lightning, and so on. The West with color added is very different from the West in black and white. Subversive is too weak a word for what André Ramos-Woodard, "hard-earned property," 2024. André Ramos-Woodard The results are energetic, assertive, a bit garish, and not exactly nuanced, though nuance isn't the point when dealing with cultural markers like Aunt Jemima, fried chicken, and watermelon. The Griffin's 15th annual photobook exhibition has 45 volumes in it. For the first time, there's also an exhibition of handmade photobooks, with 20 volumes. Browsing is encouraged. Advertisement At the very least, savor some of the titles: 31st ANNUAL JURIED MEMBERS' EXHIBITION ALINA SARANTI: FAR FROM At Griffin Museum of Photography, 67 Shore Road, Winchester, through Aug. 17 ('Members Exhibition' and 'Far From') and Sept. 28 ('BLACK SNAFU'). 781-729-1158, Mark Feeney can be reached at