One of the images featured in the Jean Mattson retrospective.
Plainfield photographer, history enthusiast and community activist Jean Mattson will be honored with a retrospective exhibit of her work -- highlighting her Plainfield portraits and daily life and scenes from Dublin, Ireland -- that opens tomorrow at the Plainfield Public Library.
Jean realized a number of years ago that an important group of Plainfielders, who had taken part in the great changes in the community over the past half century or so were becoming older and she determined to capture portraits of them while they were still with us.
This led to expanding the record to include younger people and newcomers to the community, thus comprising a special window into Plainfield as the Queen City left the 20th and entered the 21st century.
Her meticulous composition, posing and lighting showcase her desire to capture the 'essence' of the subject at hand. Elegant, and with attention to light and shadow, they engage viewers by showing Plainfielders as fully present yet somehow timeless.
Born in Plainfield in 1927 (Saturday will be her 83rd birthday), Jean is a descendant of the Squier family, early settlers of Union County who played a special role in towns such as Rahway, Clark and Elizabeth.
Professionally, Jean worked in the Media Department of Kean University for many years, retiring at age 80.
In the Plainfield community, however, she is better known for her interest in local history, and will be long remembered for organizing and curating an exceptional series of exhibits at the Drake House in 2000 that documented Plainfield in the 20th century.
That exhibit drew on her wide range of contacts throughout the community to display photographs, ephemera and daily objects reflecting the families and daily life of the Queen City, decade by decade.
Her late husband, Lutheran pastor Norman 'Moose' Mattson, had a career that took the family from Illinois to Minnesota to Alberta, Canada and back to Union County, where he retired from the ministry and went to work for the state.
Jean then found the time to earn two Masters degrees, one from Columbia University in African History and the other from Temple University in Educational Media.
Her community activism led her to become an early and enthusiastic supporter of the late Mayor Al McWilliams, who always fondly referred to her as 'The Citizen'. She stumped her neighborhood and the community for McWilliams, turning her vast network of friends and contacts into supporters for the up-and-coming father of five (whose daughter Annie is currently City Council president).
The reception will also serve as a 'birthday party' for Jean, with a cake provided by her daughter Lois Mattson and son-in-law (and Ward 2 Councilor) Cory Storch.
Anyone wishing to honor her may want to consider making a donation to the Plainfield Public Library, an agency close to Jean's heart, and -- if you've been following the news -- one now taking a severe hit from the current fiscal difficulties of the city and the state.
Opening Reception: Photography of Jean Mattson
An opening reception for an exhibit including her photographs of Ireland and Plainfield subjects
The exhibit runs through June 30th
The Room 2 Gallery
Plainfield Public Library
Park Avenue and 8th Street
An opening reception for an exhibit including her photographs of Ireland and Plainfield subjects
The exhibit runs through June 30th
The Room 2 Gallery
Plainfield Public Library
Park Avenue and 8th Street
-- Dan Damon [follow]
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1 comments:
Excellent, Dan! Jean truly is a Plainfield treasure, and it is fitting that she will be honored and celebrated at Plainfield's other treasure, our public library!
Rebecca
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