Woman holding binoculars Join today and get outside at one of our 60+ wildlife sanctuaries.
Woman holding binoculars Join today and get outside at one of our 60+ wildlife sanctuaries.
People on trail during summer at Habitat
Habitat Education Center, Belmont

In the Gallery at Habitat: John Rich

April 19, 2024

Exhibit Open May 2-June 30, 2024

Habitat will host the artwork of John Rich for the months of May and June, featuring works from his series A Year Above the Gardens.

The exhibition consists of twenty-two photographs of the Community Gardens in Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, MA shot with a drone-camera. Taken from the identical vantage point over the course of one year, the photographic prints reveal the gardens in moments of bloom, decay, and rest. A second ‘time lapse’ photo project of the artist’s will also be on display, Jamaica Pond Island. 

Artists' Reception

Saturday, May 4 • 2:00-4:00 pm

Artist's Statement

What I did during the pandemic (from mid-first-wave through the Delta variant), was photograph the community gardens near my home in Brookline Massachusetts, from above, every two weeks for one year. With their promise of growth and renewal, the gardens were truly an oasis for me during lockdown’s isolation. I piloted a camera/drone to shoot the terrain from the identical vantage point each time, showing the gardens in diverse moments of bloom, decay, and rest. By focusing on a landscape transformed through seasonal change and human intervention, these photographs encourage us to connect to the earth and experience the affirmative power of change.

Two pictures of community gardens from a drone, the top taken on March 18 and the bottom on September 13
©️ John Rich
Two pictures of community gardens from a drone, the top taken on April 28 and the bottom on February 17
©️ John Rich

About the Artist

John Rich is a Boston-based photographer and videographer. He was educated at Northeastern University, earning a B.A. in Anthropology, which he credits for his inquisitive nature and desire to explore a diverse range of visual interests. He has been a photojournalist, street photographer, sports shooter, teacher, and for more than 20 years a commercial photographer. At the same time, he has created photo-based art which has been exhibited around the U.S and Europe and has won numerous awards. More recently he has become a licensed drone pilot and uses aerial photography in both his artistic and commercial pursuits.

Gallery Hours

Tuesday–Sunday, 9 am-5 pm • Closed Monday (except holidays)

Please call ahead to confirm our hours as the gallery is occasionally closed for private events.