Exhibition Overview

Photographs by James M. Collins

October 5 - November 14th, 2018
Reception: Friday, October 5, 6 - 7:30pm. 
Artist Talk: Tuesday, October 30, 11 - 11:45am.

That tiny creature buzzing or crawling through the yard? Have you taken a good look? James M. Collins has.

A generous selection of James’ intimate portraits of beetles, spiders, moths, ants, wasps, flies, bees, and their cohorts who fly and skitter form Patio Life, an exhibition of large format color photographs in the Lotvin Family Gallery.  “I want answers.” That’s the rationale Collins gives for his investigation of the “critters” he spots in his suburban Boston yard, a quest that has revealed dozens and dozens of “interesting neighbors.” 

Also in the show is a large view of Collins’ back yard, with a key to where he shot each of his subjects; viewers can inspect where the stars posed for their close-ups.

Collins has studied his subjects.  His web site and the Patio Life book that accompanies the show are troves of critter info. Did you know that the 30,000 facets of the dragonfly’s eyes give it nearly 360 degrees of vision, so that it can keep watching you after it flies by? Or that a group of crickets is called an orchestra? Didn’t think so.

> Check out writer Chris Bergeron's take on the show in the Sunday, October 21st The MetroWest Daily News.