Return to Riverrun

The exhibition Return to Riverrun at the Griffin Museum of Photography currently on view is the first major exhibition of John Brook’s photographs since the 1970s.

Below you will find an essay by John Brook himself that describes his ideas behind his photography and book, A Long the Riverrun. In addition, two essays by Jessica Roscio, executive director and curator at the Danforth Museum at Framingham State University provide information on John Brook’s life and Roscio’s thoughts on John Brook’s photographs. Following is information on the portfolio of photographs and a single color photograph produced by the John Brook Archive for purchase.

Join us for two very special panel discussions about the life and work of John Brook.

January 31, 2021 at 4pm – opens in a new windowPanel with Lou Jones, Gary Samson, Jessica Roscio and Thom Adams

February 14, 2021 at 4pm – opens in a new windowPanel with Thom Adams, Szari Lewis Bourque, Jean Gilbran, David Herwaldt and Pat Nelson.

Preface to A Long the Riverrun by John Brook

Nature dooms us to lives of solitude. One body holds one mind – one set of fears, joys, wounds, needs – and no matter how we try we can never ache, laugh, shudder or yearn in exact unison with another being. We are alone.

But solitude is not loneliness. It is one of the terms on which we accept life. (Another is that our lives have limits in time as well as space.) Solitude is a fact, without emotional color except that which we give it. Some beings accept their oneness and guard against unwelcomed invaders, creating their own ambience, spending their solitude wisely and thriftily, choosing carefully those with whom solitude may be blissfully shared. Those who in terror try to flee from solitude are desperately lonely; they spend their lives in crowds.

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