Climate Change Subject Of Falmouth Art Center Photo Show

Retired scientist Bob Gould has been interested in spreading the word about climate change for some time. His idea for a student show of photographs, “Witnessing Climate Change,”
has resulted in a display for the month of January at Falmouth Art Center.

The reception for the show is Friday, January 7, from 4 to 6 PM at Falmouth Art Center.

The show features 57 photos from students at Falmouth High School and Falmouth Academy, plus one student who attends Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

Each student submitted a short statement with his or her photo explaining how the photo illustrates climate change. Those statements will be on display along with the photos.

Students submitting photos were asked to pick one of three topics to illustrate. Most of the entries are in the Nature category, illustrating climate-related impacts on air, water and land surrounding our towns.

Students could also choose the Society category, illustrating impacts on human health, lifestyles, infrastructure and the economy; or Individual and Community Solutions, illustrating residents’ efforts or local group efforts to address the climate crisis.

While the exhibition was set up as a contest for students, Falmouth Art Center Executive Director Laura Reckford decided to include all the photos submitted in the exhibit. “All the students put a lot of effort into their submissions, and I wanted to include everyone if we had room,” she said.

Falmouth Art Center members Jen Kano of Cataumet, who is a photographer, and Anya Zolkos of East Falmouth, who is a pottery teacher at Falmouth Art Center and also a climate science research assistant at Woodwell Climate Research Center, were the judges for the contest. Ms. Zolkos grew up in a Siberian town near the Arctic Circle and participated in climate science art projects when she was a student.

The following students’ photos received awards: In the Nature category, Lili Zac of Falmouth High School and Dylan Bowen of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, tied for first place; Nate Drury of FHS, second place; and Anne Jeffrey of Falmouth Academy and Ethan Delory of FHS,
tied for third place. Honorable mentions go to Dillon Fondren of Falmouth Academy, Eleanor Ralston of FHS, Ella Ahern of FHS, Emily Allen of FHS and Cate Charette of FHS.

In the Society category, Dylan Bowen of Martha’s Vineyard and Ethan Delory of Falmouth, tied for first place.

In the Individual/Community category, photos by Spencer Goldsmith of Falmouth Academy received first place and an honorable mention.

The photos were submitted digitally, and Walter Knox of Falmouth, who is a Falmouth Art Center board member and a leader of Upper Cape Camera Club, printed, mounted and framed all the photos.

Upper Cape Camera Club members Jeannine Lavoie of Bourne and Frank Fernino of North Falmouth hung the show.

“There were a lot of volunteers and many hours involved in this show, but it was well worth it to see the work of talented young people in our community and their thoughts on climate change,” Ms. Reckford said.

The Falmouth Art Center is located at 137 Gifford Street in Falmouth. The center reopens after the holiday break on Sunday, January 2. It is free and open to the public, Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM; Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM, and Sunday from 1 to 4 PM.

For more information, go to www.falmouthart.org or call 508-540-3304.