griffin museum of photography

Don't let the size or location fool you. The Griffin Museum of Photography is a true gem! The director and curators know what they're doing and they put on some pretty fantastic exhibitions. Whether they're showing an established photographer or a promising newcomer, you're guaranteed to find exhibitions that have been carefully chosen and curated. As one of the great champions of photography, director Paula Tognarelli has run and expanded the museum and its satellite galleries to offer access to people that may not otherwise attend a photography show. I discovered this museum about three years ago and although I don't live in the Boston area, I make it a point to visit the main museum in Winchester whenever I'm in the area. Not to be missed. seriously!

The Griffin is small, although it has an interesting collection of photographs. The museum can be viewed in 30-60 minutes, and the latter figure would only make sense if you were to spend time with the substantial collection of Life Magazines.There is ample parking, and Winchester is a nice, walkable town.

Tucked in the downtown, next to the elevated commuter rail tracks, this small, wood and stone building houses the Arthur Griffin photography museum. The downtown of Winchester is very quaint, radiating out from a rotary under the rails. Up one "arm" off the rotary sits this tiny collection of photography...eclectic and varied in style. There are photographs by perhaps 20 individual artists, maybe 6-10 prints by each. Also some mixed media. The photographs were diverse, but some were excellent. The print quality was variable-but all of it was interesting! Kind of a mish-mash of a rotating exhibit, but definitely worth a visit. Check out the rest room walls to see the period photographs done by the museum's namesake, Arthur Griffin.

Delightful small museum w/ a wonderful setting on the Aberjona River in downtown Winchester. We had attended a book signing by famous NY Photographer and local son, Michael Albiani. All Mike's photographs were beautifully displayed.