photography and poetry

@ Brookline Arts Center:

Photography and poetry are combined together in a unique spring exhibition, Kyoto in its Season at the Brookline Arts Center from April 4 – May 15, 2008. Robert Castagna, an award winning photographer from West Medford, will be showing lovely color photographs taken in the spring and fall of 2006 in Kyoto, Japan. Next to each photograph will be a haiku poem written especially for that photo by Raffael deGruttola, Past President of the Haiku Society of America.

“We are so pleased to present this exhibition of lovely photography matched with haiku poetry,” said Susan Navarre, Executive Director of the Brookline Arts Center. “It’s unlike anything we’ve done before, and people eager for spring to begin will love these delicate images of flowers, buds and trees taken in parks in Kyoto.”

Two years ago, Mr. Castagna, a successful wedding and event photographer, wanted to push his art to the next level of creativity. He decided to travel in order to focus completely on his photography and to experiment with a new aesthetic. The project in Kyoto became totally consuming and Mr. Castagna ended up visiting Japan to immerse himself in the history, literature and culture of Japan, including extensive reading of haiku poetry.

“I realized how much my approach to photography is like a poet’s approach to haiku,” he said. “Photography requires a keen sense of awareness of one’s environment,” he continued. “The challenge for me with this series has been to say enough and not too much, which is similar to the challenge haiku poets have.”

Returning to Boston, Mr. Castagna began attending events at the Boston Haiku Society. There he met Raffael deGruttola, whose haiku work is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, and the two decided to begin collaborating. At a recent exhibit of Mr. Castagna’s Kyoto photos at the Rolly-Michaux Galleries in Boston, Mr. deGruttola read haiku poetry which reflected the images and the concepts of the photos.

For the Brookline Arts Center show, Mr. deGruttola, a resident of Natick, has written new haiku poetry specifically for each photograph. “It has been a great experience to collaborate with an artist such as Robert Castagna who understands Japan and interprets it beautifully, ” said Mr. deGruttola. “I am thrilled by the haiku poetry Raffael has composed for my photographs,” said Mr. Castagna. “It complements the images and adds yet another layer of meaning causing you to look deeper..”

A free photo salon, with both Mr. Castagna and Mr. deGruttola will be held on Friday, May 9th from 6:30 – 8:30pm. Photographers are invited to bring their photographs and discuss composition and techniques with both artists.

The exhibit will open at the Brookline Arts Center, 86 Monmouth St., Brookline on Friday, April 4th and run through Thursday, May 15th. The exhibit hours are from 9:00 – 4:30 Monday through Friday. Mr. Castagna appears courtesy of Rolly-Michaux Galleries.