A Photography Series 400 Million Years in the Making

‘A stone is a thought that the earth develops over inhuman time.”

This line from Louise Erdrich’s story “The Stone” served as inspiration for photographer Sarah Prud’homme when creating her new series that is now on display at the Cornwall Library in Cornwall, Conn.

The exhibit entitled Inhuman Time opened to the public on Saturday, Jan. 21.

Prud’homme described the series as “a meditation on stones from New England’s coasts,” and says the natural world has always been a key influence on her art.

“I was just struck how nature could form something like this,” said Prud’homme as she held one of the roughly 400-million-year-old basalt stones. “These are from a cove which is very narrow, and because the wave action was so intense, they became very rounded.”

Many of the stones in Prud’homme’s series were found along the coast of Maine and were formed when volcanic magma erupted to the surface almost half a billion years ago.

“Mostly basalt, they have high concentrations of magnesium, iron, and calcium, which gives them a rich black hue.”

Prud’homme hoped the series would allow viewers to “reflect on the fact that humans and stones are composed of the same minerals, that the universe is interconnected, and that our survival depends on this awareness.”

The images on display were created by layering up to 50 unique photographs of each stone into a “hyper-focused composition that appears both flat and three dimensional.”

“Inhuman Time” is Sarah Prud’homme’s debut exhibit at the Cornwall Library and her first solo show since 2012. The prints will be on display in the library through March 4.

Photographer Sarah Prud'homme at the opening of her show at The Cornwall Library. Photo by Riley Klein

Photographer Sarah Prud'homme at the opening of her show at The Cornwall Library. Photo by Riley Klein

Photographer Sarah Prud'homme at the opening of her show at The Cornwall Library. Photo by Riley Klein

Latest News

North Canaan antique mall fills resale niche

The 403 Group is located at 403 Ashley Falls Road, where the old This N’ That for Habitat used to be.

Photo by Robin Roraback

NORTH CANAAN — The 403 Group Antique Market is “A hidden secret, a little off the beaten path, but worth the drive,” said Carey Field, who has a booth called “Wild Turkey” there.

“It’s a really fun group of dealers,” Field said. “A really eclectic group of antiques and the prices are reasonable.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Cold Spring, a not-so-hidden Hudson Valley gem

“Cold Spring, NY” depicts life in a notable Hudson River town with a rich history and much natural beauty.

Krista A. Briggs

According to Alissa Malnati, co-creator of the new coffee table tome, “Cold Spring, NY”, after twenty-five years in the urban jungle, it was time to go in search of a cure for the angst which, for some, can come with metropolitan living. “My husband and I were soul sick,” explained Malnati of the couple’s move to Cold Spring, a Hudson River town located in leafy Putnam County. “We were seeking restoration and quiet, and to be in nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.”

The time was right for a move in 2021. The Malnatis relocated from busy Brooklyn to a tranquil mountaintop abode which allowed them to decompress without the intrusion of cell phones and ceaseless city noise. With the shift to the Hudson Valley, Alissa, a writer and fashion executive, and her husband, Will, a podcaster and television producer, found the peace they were searching for in Cold Spring, a semi-rural town known for its boutiques, antique shops, and world-class hiking trails.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ani Jenkins brings whimsical wood sculptures to HVRHS gallery

Natalia Zukerman

Ani Jenkins

“I have pieces of wood that’ll sit around for years and then suddenly, I’m looking at it and think, ‘Oh! This is what you want to be,’” said artist Ani Jenkins whose extraordinary solo exhibit of wood sculptures opened at Housatonic Valley High School’s Kearcher-Monsell Gallery on December 13. This show marks a new milestone for the gallery, featuring its first collection of exclusively three-dimensional works. Jenkins, who moved to Falls Village during the Covid-19 pandemic, has brought her intricate and interactive wood sculptures to the Northeast, much to the delight of students, staff, and visitors.

Jenkins grew up in Boulder, Colorado, surrounded by art, as her mother was pursuing her MFA during that time. Her exploration of wood began in the 90’s when she had an opportunity to take an inlay class. “Everything came so easily and naturally, it was as if I’d been working with wood my entire life,” said Jenkins. She continued to work for many years adding inlay to furniture and musical instruments but shared, “I was craving more three-dimensionality, so I started playing around with all the little scraps and cut-offs and building sculptures with those. It all just exploded and snowballed.” Her practice eventually evolved into creating larger, sculptural pieces that are infused with deep mystical themes, reflections of ancient civilizations and visions of times and places still yet to be seen.

Keep ReadingShow less