The Chesapeake’s waterways have long captured the imagination of artists. Since the 19th century, photographers have been avidly documenting the Bay’s changing seasons, light, and scenery, compiling a body of work that reflects the region’s changing maritime world and culture.
Some of the most memorable photos of the Bay are the iconic, black and white images made famous by Marion Warren, A. Aubrey Bodine, and Robert de Gast. De Gast, one of the last great 20th century Chesapeake photographers, recently passed away in 2016. But his photographic legacy lives on in a new exhibition at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels.
In addition to the exhibition’s images, a slate of public programs are scheduled. On Saturday, January 20, CBMM will host a Family Photography Workshop based around the exhibition, Robert de Gast’s Chesapeake. Families will be able to explore de Gast’s work and learn some of the principles that make his images so captivating. They will then be able to take their own de Gast-inspired pictures around CBMM’s photogenic campus.
The workshop is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on the 20th, and advanced registration is required. The cost for CBMM members is $5, and $8 for non-members, but accompanying young siblings aged five and under are free. To register, click here.
The exhibition Robert de Gast’s Chesapeake is on display in the museum’s Steamboat Building through April.
