Photographer Bernice Abbott brought us to the NY State Museum in Albany, but it was Margery Ryerson who I will remember from our trip today.
It’s partly because there were only twelve of Abbotts photos which we walked past a few times before seeing them. Not hidden, but they got lost in the hallway they were displayed in.
My two favorites were The Bread Store and Manhattan Bridge
Until today, I never heard of Margery Ryerson who was a painter, photographer and printmaker. She was also a teacher, writer and Illustrator. Since she worked with children, they often became the subjects of her art.
I was drawn to the empty space in many of her prints and paintings, which felt like whispers.
And I found some of there photography more evocative than the paintings she made from them.
I love learning about different artists, especially those no longer here, and from a different era. And wow, she lived to be 102! I’m going to see if my library has some books about her. I’m intrigued.
It makes me think of all the artists we never hear about or will never know about Barb. I’m glad she was known in her time.