Celebrate National Camera Day at the Parrish Museum

In honor of National Camera Day, Sunday, June 29, the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill has organized a special event where amateur to professional photographers of all ages can experience and engage in photography through innovative activities, demonstrations, and a closer inspection of the photographic works on view in the permanent collection galleries.  Beginning at 10 a.m. and running until 1 p.m. “Say Cheese” was created as a way to acknowledge the impact of photography on our lives. “Say Cheese” takes note of the rapidly expanding front of personal photography and the rapidly growing popularity of camera phones, tablets, and the impulse to share images via social media. The cost of the program is included with Museum admission, $10, free for members, children and students.  

“We developed this program with our Millennials audience in mind, and worked with intern Ferry Foster and others to generate a variety of ways for the public to engage with photography and our collection,” said Andrea Grover, Curator of Special Projects. “The phenomenon of cell phone and personal photography prompted us to design a program that embraces this everyday impulse and acknowledges that the medium has been evolving and expanding the way we understand history and culture for nearly 200 years.”

During the three-hour event, visitors can participate in “Artlympics” challenges such as creating the best moment with a museum employee, best new art title, or best camouflage attempt in front of an art work, and others. Participants are invited to document these feats through camera phones and Instagram accounts. Strategically placed Op Spots located around the Parrish property will provide opportunities for optical illusions and “trick photography”—in the tradition of tourists holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Museum’s Lichtenstein Theatre will be transformed into a camera obscura where people can enter and experience this age-old optical phenomenon, and an onsite photo booth, generously provided by Super Booths, Inc., will allow visitors to experience photography from the other side of the lens. Throughout the morning, local photographers will share their insights and experiences through demonstrations and mini-lessons.    

National Camera Day is an officially recognized holiday on the National Day Calendar. Though its origins are unclear, June 29 has been declared the official day to celebrate the history of cameras and photography and the impact they have on our everyday lives. Suggestions for celebrating the day include shopping for a camera or tripod, enrolling in a photography class, joining a photography club, and simply taking photos.