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6 - THE GALLERY April 27, 2012 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly
‘White on White’ Opens At
The Bruce Museum June 30
GREENWICH, CONN. — “White on White: Churches
of Rural New England” is a visual journey through the
New England landscape of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth
Centuries as viewed through the lens of architectural design
and historic preservation. The show opens June 30 at the
Bruce Museum, One Museum Drive, and will continue
there through September 23.
Organized by Historic New England of Boston, Mass.,
this exhibition presents 40 photographs of iconic New England
churches taken by renowned architectural photographer
Steve Rosenthal.
These remarkable small-town, white country structures
were erected by local builders, joiners and occasionally by
itinerant master carpenters. With no trained architects or
schools of architecture in the country at the time, inspiration
came from traditional designs and pattern books.
Steve Rosenthal began photographing the churches in the
1960s and the project gradually became a personal quest.
His affinity for the subject is apparent in the luminous black
and white photographs that capture the effect of light on
three-dimensional forms and the abstract patterns of shingles
and shutters. His work, which displays the intrinsic
beauty of the architecture while creating a world of rich
order and rational light, allows the viewer to follow the evolution
of church styles from the early meetinghouse through
the changing patterns of Greek and Gothic revivals.
“These are the buildings which give New England towns
and villages a unique sense of place and define, in many
minds, the New England character,” Rosenthal explains.
“Collectively, they are as important to the cultural and
architectural history of these villages as are the great cathedrals
to the cities of Europe.”
Revered for their physical beauty, simplicity and elegance
— and for their role in the early history of this country, the
early churches of New England hold a special place in the
American consciousness. Rosenthal, who trained as an
architect and is an accomplished architectural photographer,
has traveled throughout the Northeast capturing what
remains of these architectural gems. The photographs in
“White on White: Churches of Rural New England” are
personally selected by Rosenthal from his book of the same
name.
According to Anne Von Stuelpnagel, director of exhibitions
at the Bruce Museum, the exhibition is likely to appeal
to a broad audience. “There is the artistry of the photographs.
And the subject matter will connect with many peo-
Exhibition Features Steve Rosenthal’s Photographs
Of Historic New England Churches
Steve Rosenthal, “Old First Church, Old Bennington, Vermont, 1805,” photograph. ©2005 Steve Rosenthal.
Steve Rosenthal, “South Ferry Church, Narragansett, Rhode Island, 1850,” photograph.
©2005 Steve Rosenthal.
Steve Rosenthal, “Washington Congregational Church,
1840, Schoolhouse, 1843, and Town Hall, 1787, Washington,
New Hampshire,” photograph. ©2002 Steve
Rosenthal.
ple who live in this area, which may also inspire a bit of
exploration throughout New England for a first-hand look
at these historic structures.”
Steve Rosenthal began to photograph architecture while
working as an architect in Cambridge, Mass., in the late
1960s. Not long afterward, he turned to architectural photography
as a full-time career and very quickly established
himself at the top of his field in New England. He has won
numerous awards including a medal given by the American
Institute of Architects for “distinguished achievements that
enhance or influence the environment and the architectural
profession.” His book White on White: Churches of Rural
New England, photographs by Steve Rosenthal with an essay
by Verlyn Klinkenborg and an afterword by Robert Campbell,
is available through Historic New England. [Hard
cover, 14 by 12 inches, 136 pages, 80 large black and white
photographs, $85.] For more information or to order, call
617-227-3956 or visit www.HistoricNewEngland.org.
“White on White” is one of Historic New England’s traveling
exhibitions. Historic New England is the oldest,
regional heritage organization in the nation. They bring history
to life while preserving the past for everyone interested
in exploring New England from the Seventeenth Century
to today. Historic New England owns and operates 36 historic
homes and landscapes spanning five states. They share
the region’s history through vast collections, publications,
public programs, museum properties, archives, and family
stories that document more than 400 years of life in New
England.
The Bruce Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday
from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm;
closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $7 for
adults, $6 for seniors and students up to 22 years and free
for members and children under 5 years old. Individual
admission is free on Tuesday. Free on-site parking is available
and the museum is accessible to individuals with disabilities.
For additional museum information, call 203-869-
0376 or visit www.brucemuseum.org.
Steve Rosenthal, “Old Trinity Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, Connecticut, 1771,”
photograph. ©2004 Steve Rosenthal.