Nina Ruiz
In Motion Staff Writer
Photographer Raymond Smith’s exhibit, “In Time We Shall Know Ourselves,” made its debut Jan. 20, encouraging viewers to take an introspective stance to understand their identities, personalities and how they may look to the rest of the world—in this case behind a camera lens.
The new exhibit is on view through April 15 at the Southeast Museum of Photography in the Hosseini Center, Building 1200.
This semester, the museum is also offering a weekly event called, “Fridays With Phil,” in which tour guide, Phil Kalfin goes into depth about each exhibit, as well as individual artworks.
Kalfin is an educator who earned his PhD in education at the University of Florida. He began working in administration in public schools and ultimately became an assistant principal and consultant. Kalfin has also has worked at the University of Central Florida as the Director of Disability Services for eight years.
After retiring and moving to New Smyrna Beach, Kalfin volunteered at UCF supervising teacher interns until the program closed in 2016. Searching for volunteer opportunities became Kalfin’s new endeavor and he soon found himself contacted by SMP’s director James Pearson last fall.
The educator’s interest in photography and the arts blossomed from a hobby to a passion, so Kalfin is always eager to meet and interact with those who visit the museum.
During his tours, Kalfin discusses artworks’ possible interpretations, backgrounds, purposes and overall feeling photographers aim to depict. Concerning “In Time We Shall Know Themselves,” Kalfin initially discusses Smith’s inspiration from previous photographers to the day-to-day life that called to him for capturing. Kalfin brings these artworks to life by explaining the main purpose for capturing such moments is to primarily illustrate people in their natural states.
In the exhibit, photographs of casual conversations or routines between regular bystanders allow the viewer to fully connect with the time and place of the photograph, just as it was when it was taken.
Daytona State student Brianna Hunt, who was recently visiting the museum, felt especially connected to a photograph titled, “Barber Shop,” taken in DeLand in1974. She describes the pull the piece had on her and says that it stood out because, “It was more than just a single photograph depicting a single scene. The photograph shed light on what happens around the barber shop — behind the scenes, if you will. From the reflection of the palm trees, to the actual vision of the lens behind the glass windows, it made me feel like I was a part of the art.”
Downstairs, there are photographs from the ’50s taken by Berenice Abbot during her road trip on the U.S. Route 1. Coming all the way from Maine, Abbot photographed her trip to Miami with her companions. In the quick overview of her exhibit, “North and South,” she defines her purpose of the trip, being that she “Wanted to capture visually the character of a historic section of the United States. We wanted to visit them before the bulldozers and derricks moved in.”
The opportunity to be able to see what life was like before industrialization in the United States is the chance to further understand the contrasts between the groundwork of this vast country almost half a century ago and what it has become.
Tour guide Kalfin shares his special connection with Abbot’s exhibit, explaining, “Memories from childhood in these years are not as sharp, so to see somebody represent these times in 1954 brings back so many of my own emotions. I relate to the wholeness, detail, expression and feeling of these artworks. It brings me back to that point of time and it is amazing that art can do that.”
The Southeast Museum of Photography welcomes all ages to be intrigued and captivated by the photographs on exhibit. Manuel Valero, another Daytona State student attending a recent tour, expresses the benefits of visiting the museum by saying, “The exposure to the moments in time that were captured helps a student understand the history of their home in Florida, as well as the history and culture country-wide. Because the photographs were taken locally in places like DeLand and Orlando, the artworks sparked my interest even more.”
For older viewers, artworks may rekindle memories that may have been forgotten and remind them of joyful times from their youth.
Smith will be visiting the SMP on March 25 to discuss his inspiration and artworks concerning the exhibit. The artist reception and discussion will be at 5 p.m. It is open to the public and free to all.