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Gloucester, Massachusetts, where Nubar Alexanian was born
and has been photographing for almost thirty years, is in many ways a
photographer's dream. The idyllic landscape, pure and crisp light , wooden
houses and quaint storefronts, seem to come right out of the nineteenth
century and have always attracted artists. But in contrast with the picture-perfect
surroundings, fishing is the primary occupation, one of the most dangerous
jobs in America. It regularly claims the lives of fathers, sons and husbands:
a long list of fishermen lost at sea is carved on the wall of Gloucester's
City Hall.
Alexanian has followed the fishermen in their daily fight against the
elements. He has also photographed life in town and the rituals which
mark the year: memorial services, a bluefish tournament, St Peter's Fiesta,
Labor Day and Prom Night, a Fourth of July cookout. There are also the
smaller private children's rituals, from the first day of school to the
first visit to the dentist. And landscapes: the snow-covered trunks, the
moss creeping on granite blocks, the slabs of ice floating away in the
mist like smaller boats.
For
more information on the book contact: Walker Creek Press wcp@shore.net
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