Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live?
Marc: I live in Barrington and was an OBGYN physician for 35 years until I retired in 2020. I’ve been interested in photography since childhood, initially using the family camera, then getting my own Kodak instamatic and Polaroid Swinger, later saving all my money to get my first SLR at age 15. I took pictures for my high school newspaper and yearbook and developed and printed my own black and white photographs. After that, life got in the way for a while, and although I still took pictures, I didn’t have a lot of time to pursue it as an art form. Later, especially after I met Bonnie 35 years ago, the passion was rekindled.
Bonnie: I live with Marc in Barrington. I was born and raised in Rhode Island, was taught photography by my father, Murray Perlman, attended the Wheeler School and then graduated from RISD in 1978. Then I earned my Masters in Education (Instructional Design) from Rhode Island College. Following graduation, I spent a number of years doing corporate training and marketing videos for Commercial Union, MetLife and CVS, and then became Broadcast Advertising Manager for CVS. Later I had my own business doing corporate videos. After meeting Marc, we found that we had a shared passion for the art side of photography, and that has been an important part of our life together.
How long have you been a member? How long have you been a JAM?
We first exhibited in Wickford in 2007 and became members shortly after that. Several years later we were both accepted as JAMs.
Do you currently volunteer?
We have volunteered for several years at the art festival, taking photographs and covering artists’ booths so they could take breaks.
How would you describe your artwork, what inspires it, and what do you hope viewers take away from it?
For both of us, our work runs the gamut from street photography to abstract, architectural–pretty much anything that catches our eyes. Lately we have been doing most of our work with our iPhones–that allows us to be spontaneous and discrete, and to always be open to capture whatever appeals to us at any given time. Inspiration comes from being observant of our environment, whatever that might be. We hope that our work inspires others to stop and observe the world around them.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Perhaps the best advice we have received and would want to share is to make art for yourself–do what you enjoy and what gives you pleasure, not just what will sell or appeal to the masses. It’s nice if others appreciate your work for sure, but if not, that’s ok.
What is the most important skill you should have as an artist?
To be observant of details around you, and to appreciate light and composition.
What is your favorite thing about the Wickford Art Association?
The Wickford Art Association is the first art association we joined, and we really like the people we’ve come to know through our membership, especially in the Photo Arts Group.
What do you enjoy most about your artistry/being an artist?
We enjoy having a creative outlet that we feel proficient in–it’s so important to have something to escape the stress of work, life and politics. And we are so fortunate to share this passion together, especially in this next stage of our life.
Do you have any upcoming shows?
We currently have photos in the Little Pictures Show at the Providence Art Club, the Warwick Center for the Arts, South County Arts Association, Heartspot Gallery in East Providence, and Pawtucket Arts Guild, and soon to be showing at the Plymouth Center for the Arts, Attleboro Arts Museum, Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts. We also occasionally show at the DeBlois in Middletown, IMAGO Gallery in Warren, and the Zullo Gallery in Medfield, MA.