Bennington Museum Welcomes Neil Rappaport's Students

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The Bennington Museum invites you to join a panel of Neil Rappaport's former Bennington College students from around the country as they discuss his lasting impact on the field of photography and on their personal growth under his tutelage. The discussion will be held on Saturday, October 21 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. This lively discussion is ideal for both those who knew Neil and those who want to discover the man behind the art. The discussion is in conjunction with the exhibit In Place: The Photographs of Neil Rappaport, running at the museum until November 3. The program is free with admission to the museum. Participants in the discussion will include students who have gone on to careers in photography, all in very different areas of the profession. Jeff Curto is a photographer and Professor of Photography at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. His particular interest is in photographing Italy and its history. Steve Brettler is the president of E. Phillip Levine Inc in Boston. This company is a successful camera supplier for over 50 years. The company is the largest New England resource for professional photography equipment. Also present for the discussion will be Jonathan Barber, a Cambridge, New York photographer, and Eileen Travell who works in The Photograph Studio at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Susan Alancraig is a photographer who lives in Cambridge, New York and works in international community development. Finally, Simon Biswas, a photographer and graduate of Skidmore College will join in the discussion. He has recently been photographing and writing about three Washington County, New York dairy farms. In Place: The Photographs of Neil Rappaport, is an exhibit of the former Bennington College professor, who established the photography department at the college. The work in the exhibit primarily focuses on his "visual census" of Pawlet, Vermont residents from 1980-1990. These intimate photographs give a glimpse into a Vermont that is swiftly disappearing. The discussion on October 21, organized by Neil's wife Susanne, will give a glimpse into the creator of these stunning photographs. The Bennington Museum is located at 75 Main St. (Route 9) one mile west of the intersection of Routes 7 and 9 in downtown Bennington, Vermont. Open daily except Wednesdays from 10 am- 6pm through Columbus Day. After that 10 am - 5pm. For more information, visit the website at www.benningtonmuseum.org or call 802-447-1571.
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Letter: When the Justice System Becomes a Tool for Harassment

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

I am 74 years old. I spent 45 years in the professional painting trade and have always been known as a dedicated, law-abiding citizen, as well as a passionate self-taught artist and photographer. Yet, I have recently discovered a terrifying flaw in our legal system: it can be easily weaponized by individuals to harass and disrupt the lives of the innocent.

Just over a year ago, what began as a simple, justified complaint about unbearable noise in my apartment — my place of retirement and peace — spiraled into a nightmare. Instead of the system protecting my right to a quiet home, it allowed the upstairs neighbors to fabricate allegations and bring false criminal charges against me.

It is a bitter irony that a senior citizen with a clean record can be railroaded through a court system based on the word of individuals who show a disregard for the law. Even more distressing is seeing a parent stand by and support perjury rather than guiding their family toward integrity.

I am sharing my story because the public needs to know that simply being in the right isn't always enough to protect you. When the court allows itself to be used as a means of retaliation, it ceases to be a system of justice and becomes a system of shame. We must do better to protect our seniors from such blatant legal abuse.

Even though I moved out of that property months ago, on our most recent court date last week, the court again extended a restraining order against me based on completely unjustified complaints by the plaintiff.

We must hold our system accountable to ensure it protects the vulnerable rather than punishing them.

Sincerely,

Luciano Guadagno
Pittsfield, Mass. 

 

 

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