Newton photographer Peter Vanderwarker has captured monuments in Paris, colorful sites in Yellowstone and natural wonders in Costa Rica. But as the 250th anniversary of American independence approaches, Vanderwarker’s new exhibit captures what he knows best: the city of Boston.
“Boston Freedom” features 11 photographs shot and chosen by Vanderwarker that capture the rich history of Boston. It opened March 1 at the Cooper Center for Active Living and is on display through May 30.
“It was an honor to put stuff up,” Vanderwarker said. “It’s my hometown, right?”
In the exhibit’s introductory plaque, Vanderwarker wrote, “We live in a complicated and highly layered place, full of imperfections. But when we look carefully at some of our favorite landmarks, we can see some important ideas about what makes our city so vital to the American imagination.”
Meryl Kessler, Newton’s director of arts and culture and friend of Vanderwarker, said the exhibit is a perfect way to highlight both Boston and American history.
“The images are not only beautiful, but they’re sort of expansive in their view of what makes America, America,” Kessler said.
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Vanderwarker’s passion for photography began at 16 with a book, “Nothing Personal” by James Baldwin.
He studied architecture at the University of California, Berkeley and spent three years as an architect but didn’t love his job. Then he found an intersection of his studies and passion in architectural photography.
Photographer Peter Vanderwarker, shown here in his Newton home, has artwork on display at the Cooper Center for Active Living. Photo by Lea Tran
Asked to describe his artistic process, he quoted former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart: “I know it when I see it.”
“You wander around and then you sort of see something, the way the light’s going and the way the natural parts of the building are, and you just go, that’s it right there,” Vanderwarker said.
Some photos in “Boston Freedom” have historic Boston buildings as their subject.
His shot of the Old North Church calls back to the crucial role Boston played in the American Revolution. In the photo, lights shine through the steeple, casting a golden glow on the tower that contrasts against the blue night sky.
One photo of Fenway park during the summer stands out, not because of the iconic subject but because of the purple haze of the summer evening.
“The thing about photography is it’s halfway between being a document that represents a city and something that’s art,” Vanderwarker said.
Vanderwarker’s fondness for Boston has been present throughout his photography career.
“There’s always something new,” Vanderwarker said about shooting in Boston.
“Boston: Then and Now,” Vanderwarker’s first photography book, done in partnership with the Boston Public Library, compared old photos of 1800s Boston with their counterparts from the 20th century.
“It was during the time when big skyscrapers were starting to be built in Boston,” Vanderwarker said. “I said, ‘I’m gonna stop the ruining of this historic city, and I’m going to take these pictures and when people see them, they’re going to realize what a thing of value we have.’”
Themes of past and modernity are also present in Vanderwarker’s “Boston Freedom” collection.
An image of an illuminated Old State House surrounded by skyscrapers presents a juxtaposed look of the brightened older site among dark modern buildings.
“It’s a jewel in these big boxes,” Vanderwarker said.
Another photo shows the Boston skyline taken 23 miles away in Gloucester. The image of the city’s skyscrapers on the water recalls Boston’s ties to the sea with its early shipbuilding and fishing industries.
It’s a direct line from Boston to Gloucester’s eastern point where Vanderwarker took the photo.
“The curvature of the earth makes tall buildings look like they’re floating when taken with a super long lens,” Vanderwarker explained.
Vanderwarker’s photos also touch on nationwide issues and are not confined to Boston. A striking image of a tattered American flag is the first photo in the exhibit. It’s one of his favorites.
“Everything in the news now is about how American democracy is failing and in tatters,” Vanderwarker said. “But I make this point that no, the fabric of America has been in rough shape before. And you know, I think we’re made of better stuff than that.”
Despite the variety of subjects, Vanderwarker’s selection seems purposeful in pulling individual moments from Boston culture—reminders of the city’s long and rich history.
“I think it’s the totality of the show that really makes it special,” Kessler said.
Vandermarker, who has worked over 30 years as a freelance architectural photographer, is happy to display his work, whether for a show in his hometown or a gallery in New York.
“I’ve probably taken, I don’t know, a million, two million pictures in my life,” Vanderwarker said. “Well, I want to leave maybe 25 really good ones.”