Scott Bulger’s New Work is an Invitation to Take a Closer Look

CONCORD, NH - A peek at acclaimed New Hampshire artist Scott Bulger’s latest work exemplifies his favorite quote by Henry David Thoreau -- “It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." 

Using black and white photography as his medium of choice, Bulger sees himself as a chronicler of the often unnoticed and underappreciated.  His new body of work, Khronikos, does just that as Bulger turns his eye to examine the detail and texture that surrounds us on a daily basis. “Bulger’s crisp black and white images chronicle unnoticed and forsaken aspects of the ordinary,” said Christopher Volpe in a review in the June/July/August issue of Art New England.

The show on display July 1 – August 27 inside the Carolyn Jenkins Gallery at the Kimball Jenkins Estate in Concord, New Hampshire features 17 crisp black and white 20”x30” digital prints. These are the largest prints Bulger has undertaken in his career.

To celebrate the opening of this new show, Bulger has partnered with a local musician, winery and caterer to bring a new style of destination art opening in Concord. The Friday, July 9 opening is free to the public and will be held from 7-11 p.m. Jazz music will be performed by the Scott Solsky Quartet. Scott Solsky is also the music program coordinator for the Shaker Road School. New Hampshire winery LaBelle Winery will offering guests a chance to sample their award-winning wines and catering will be provided by Chef DJ Collise III.

 The theme for this new body of work presented itself as Bulger began to review the images. Khronikos is the Greek word for chronicle. “A chronicle is a historical account of facts and events arranged in chronological order,” Bulger

said. “Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, the purpose being the recording of events that occurred, seen from the perspective of the chronicler. Since these events are seen from the perspective of the chronicler, they are open to interpretation.

“I am a chronicler,” he added. “I use a camera as opposed to a pen to chronicle my surroundings.”

This body of work represents two-years of Bulger’s time behind his camera. Only 17 images made it into the show, but Bulger has also published a book, available for sale at the opening event or by contacting him, featuring 52 images.

Bulger began exploring photography when his grandmother offered him the opportunity to use her camera at age 12. He has been viewing the world through the lens of a camera ever since.

Studying the work of the photographers that he admired the most; Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Alfred Stieglitz, Elliot Erwitt, and Henri Cartier-Bresson, a common thread was realized and switching to black and white seemed the obvious course to take. Over his 20 year career, Bulger’s work has been displayed in many exhibits, published in textbooks, received numerous awards and included in many private collections. In 2001, “A Portrait of the Yucatan,” a collection of photographs from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico was published. In 2010, Bulger was recognized by the Hippo Press as one of the best local visual artists.

Bulger has taught many aspects of photography, from composition to the Zone System.  He currently teaches at Kimball-Jenkins School of Art in Concord, N.H. where he sits as a board member of the School of Art Supporters advisory team. He also teaches as an adjunct professor in the Visual Arts degree program at NHTI, Concord’s Community College.