Introduction
THE COLORS OF LONGING
Off the south coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, lies Martha’s Vineyard. Every summer the island is a well-frequented holiday destination. Alison Shaw (*1954) has lived permanently on the island since 1975. For years she has observed and contemplated the change of tides and seasons and allows herself to be inspired by the light, wind, and weather for her calm, atmospheric, and intense pictures of the coast. She lets herself be directed by nature and her mood; she pours herself completely therein. Alison Shaw’s photographs are epic, radiate tranquility, and tell of endlessly beating waves and the magic of the island with its opulent atmospheric palette of color. While her quasi-square pictures are intrinsically related to classical landscape painting, her panoramas have the effect – though only a single still image – of motion, as if they were made during for a film, and we almost can hear the underlying, slow, narrative music of a reunion or bidding farewell.
Bio
Lives and works on Martha’s Vineyard as a photographer. Teaches photography workshops for the Maine Photographic Workshops and Santa Fe Workshops.
Awards
New England Press Association:
Photographer of the Year, 1993, 1991, 1987, 1981
New England Press Association: Dozens of awards for Spot News, Feature, Personality, General News, Sports and Pictorial photography.
Vineyard Summer:
Inclusion in Print Magazine 1995 Design Annual; New England Book Show '94 (1st place, Pictorial Book category)
Exhibitions
2005 | Field Gallery, West Tisbury, MA |
2004 | Riverwinds Gallery, Beacon, NY |
| LoRiver Arts Gallery, Beacon, NY |
2003 | Alpers Fine Art, Andover, MA |
2002- 2005 | Alfred Harvard Square Salon, Cambridge, MA |
2002- 2003 | Gallery Saintonge, Missoula, MT |
2001 | Alpers Fine Art, Andover, MA |
2000 | William Marten Gallery, Rochester, NY |
1999 | Sandra Berler Gallery, Chevy Chase, MD |
1995 | Boylston Hall Gallery, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA |
| Chase Gallery, Boston, MA |
| Springfield Museum Gallery, Springfield, MA |
1994 | Christina Gallery, Edgartown, MA |
1993 | Roy Gallery, New York, NY |
1991 | Edison College Gallery, Ft. Myers, FL |
| New England Photographic Workshop Gallery, New Milford, CT |
1989 | Artscape, Philadelphia, PA |
| Fleury Gallery, Boston, MA |
| Southeastern Center for the Arts, Atlanta, GA |
1988-2005 | Granary Gallery, West Tisbury, MA |
1987-1993 | Vineyard Vignettes, Edgartown, MA |
1987 | New England Photographic Workshop Gallery, New Milford, CT |
1986 | Southeastern Center for the Arts, Atlanta, GA |
| 124 Ltd. Art Editions, New York, NY |
| Smith College Alumnae House Gallery, Northampton, MA |
1983-1987 | Field Gallery, West Tisbury, MA |
1983 | Thayer Academy Gallery, Braintree, MA |
1979-2004 | Old Sculpin Gallery, Edgartown, MA |
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