GREENWALD GALLERY

Stephen Malagodi A City, To Live In MARCH 31 - APRIL 25

The life of a city consists of millions of moments. Light glancing off a window, a press of pedestrians crossing a street, pigeons on a bench; scenes constantly shifting with the movement of light and people. The photographer walks about, watching, evaluating, waiting until click, the shutter snaps and a moment is captured forever. Stephen Malagodi walks the streets of Lowell with his Leica looking for such moments. He works almost exclusively in film, which demands careful composition and attention to detail because what is caught in the 35 mm frame is what you get. No photoshop magic. Instead, the self-developed film is processed, edited and printed in his Western Avenue Studios darkroom, where the images are transferred to a life on paper.

A downtown resident, Stephen Malagodi finds a lot to photograph as he wanders. He has been taking pictures since 1980 and admires the work of classic masters of photography: Atget, Adams, Cartier-Bresson, Steiglitz, Bourke-White, and Parks, among others. All worked in black and white, and all “worthy of emulation”. Because he doesn’t do staged or indoor studio work, the street is where he finds inspiration…or the forest, the river or subway. And his camera exposes hidden corners, odd perspectives and the habitues of the downtown streets. “I am not concerned with a ‘scene’, but rather how shapes and shadows materialize as a photo” says Malagodi. “A City to Live In” presents over 25 of his photographs, carefully curated from the hundreds he takes and presented as a visual symphony of life in the city. Look carefully and you will find familiar scenes and also surprises.  You can meet the artist at a small reception on Saturday, April 10 from 5 to 7 PM. Entry will be limited to ensure Covid 19 safety.