Portraits Of Ghent

By creating a snapshot of the Ghent community during its Bicentennial year, this collection of portraits provides a record for the future. Digital and smartphone technologies have enabled us to capture billions of fleeting moments yet, only a tiny fraction are intended to have lasting impact or to be printed and archived in any way. Photographs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries are more readily to-hand, often serving as our only tactile document of history. "All of Us: Portraits of an American Bicentennial " is Richard Beaven's response to: a 'box of prints in the basement' from today which can be rediscovered and held by the community of tomorrow. Beaven's aim was to reflect a broad narrative of our town through those who live and work here. For nearly a year, he sought out and connected with possible subjects most of who were strangers beforehand. He photographed as diverse a representation of the community as he could find portraying each person in a similar way and describing each by name and their time connected with Ghent. He resisted any additional categorization ensuring an equal platform for all. The viewer is left to imagine and question for themselves what makes each subject unique or familiar based only on gesture, expression and setting. This was a humbling and deeply insightful journey for Beaven's. He would like to thank his Ghent neighbors for their time, support and the gift of understanding that we truly have more in common than that which separates us.