Discovering Water - Photo Exhibition at the Galli Curci

By Rebecca Andre

MARGARETVILLE — Water is life. Here in the Catskill Mountains, an integral part of the NYC Watershed, water sustains the lives of local people, plants, and animals as well as the residents of New York City. The life-giving rivers and reservoirs provide a unique beauty and peace that captures the heart and lens of photographers near and far.

This month, water and art come together in the latest exhibition at the Galli Curci Theater in Margaretville. “Discovering Water Through the Photographer’s Lens” presented by the Catskill Water Discovery Center (CWDC), is now on display and features the art of five talented photographers, curated by CWDC board member Brent Rumage. “We’re expanding our outreach, trying to figure out ways to help people learn about the center. We’re mostly an educational institution,” says Rumage.

The CWDC, originally intended to be a museum, incorporated in 2001 as the Catskill Watershed Partnership Museum, a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization, changing its name in ensuing years to widen its scope. Their mission is “to educate people of all ages about the precious nature of, and threats to, our planet’s most vital resource — pure water. We will use the Catskill/Delaware Watershed as our living classroom and the history and experience of those connected to this watershed to inspire people through programs, exhibits, and events to care for, conserve and protect their water resources for the benefit of generations to come.”

Their latest exhibit of photography strives to highlight the impact of water and boasts scenes of the Ashokan Reservoir, Pepacton Reservoir, Alder Lake, Dry Brook, Beaver Pond and the Delaware River. Originally planned as a state-wide photography competition, the project had to be pared down as a result of not receiving applied for grant funds. Still, the gallery walls are filled with beautiful captures of water, sky, reflections, sunrises, and sunsets that demonstrate each artists’ close relationship to the life-giving resource.

The participating artists, invited personally by Rumage, are Bernard Cohen, Drew Jarrett, Noah Kalina, Ashley Miiles and Bing Wright. Both Cohen and Jarrett are from Margaretville. Wright is from the Beaverkill Valley and Miiles lives near the Ashokan Reservoir. Noah Kalina, residing near Ellenville, has on display “The River Series” a chronological collection of photos he took with his drone of the Delaware River outside of his studio during the pandemic’s lockdown. 100 photos are hung in a grid along the two far walls of the theater in a dramatic statement of changing color along meandering the East Branch.

Bing Wright, with experiences showing nationally and internationally, has on display two of the largest pieces. The viewer stands before a photo of a window, that is the actual size of a window, peering through to a landscape blurred by the rain on the windowpane. Next up are Bernard Cohen’s photos, taken of the water from his canoe as he floats along the Pepacton Reservoir. He then enlarges them and they take on the quality of a watercolor painting. Drew Jarrett’s photos present captivating scenes from the Beaver Pond at Alder Lake, Drybrook, the Pepacton, as well as a few water captures from his home country, England.

A running theme of the exhibit seems to be the strategy of the photographer returning to the same location, but at different times of the day, to document the variable seasons, light and colors reflected on water. This takes dedication and organization, as seen in the photography of Ashley Miiles, who diligently goes out early in the morning, capturing breathtaking reflections on the Ashokan Reservoir. Each photo is cataloged by date and time.

Coming up on August 17 from 3pm-6pm is a fundraiser taking place for the CWDC, with the Discovering Water photography show providing an appropriate setting. Funds raised will go to supporting the non profit. For more information go to waterdiscoverycenter.org.