There Must Be Something in the Water (Photos)

Pictured above: "Let the Water Wash Over You"

Leslie M.G. writes about Paul Specht:

Being intimately connected to and concerned with form and figure are topics that Provincetown photographer Paul Specht's newest collection of work explores. There Must Be Something in the Water takes the viewer on a mindful journey through the subtleties of landscape while playing with the intrinsic nature of portraiture and character study.

Always interested in the human condition and the importance of sharing raw emotion, Paul Specht finds beauty in the every day and blends that with artistry, a well-crafted aesthetic, and a sense of timelessness to create images that not only reflect the immediacy and fragility of our culture, but also capture the essence of humanity as it is reflected in the world around him. Culling his experience in both painting and printmaking, he pulled out his images and began gradually working with them, juxtaposing two or more to create one complimentary and visually compelling composite image that offers new perspective and visual harmony.

"Water is easily accessible. Its pretty its calming. It's a recognizable thing. Going to P-town and going to Herring Cove; a majority of the people who go there feel that it is a safe space," Specht said when asked why he chose water to be so prominent in his current work. He also spoke about some of the places where he shot the photos, such as a pond on his mother-in-law's property, and a popular swimming hole in Cummington, Massachussetts and how those images were defined by his feelings of safety and harmony.

There Must Be Something in the Water is an introspective journey through space and time that ultimately leaves the viewer feeling a sense of peace and a renewed sense of place. Upon first glance, each image seems somehow connected. As the viewer spends time with each piece, the cohesion of images becomes apparent and the beauty of the synergy takes center stage.

There Must Be Something in the Water will be featured at the Greenfield Gallery from January 10 through February 16, 2018. There will be an artist reception on Friday January 26, 2018, from 6-8 p.m.

The Greenfield Gallery
231 Main St, Greenfield, MA 01301
Gallery hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays noon- 8 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

See more of Paul Speech's work on Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr.

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