As part of ONYVA’s commitment to showcasing local artists in our dedicated gallery space, we’re thrilled to present the work of Sommerville-based photographer Stephenie Young.
Young describes herself as a street photographer, finding inspiration both locally, in and around Boston, and further afield (she’s a voracious traveler and has a particular affinity for Turkey, which she’s visited frequently in recent years). Photography, she says, is in her blood: her mother, also an artist, used the family home’s second bathroom, located next to Young’s bedroom, as a darkroom, and the tick-tick of the enlarger’s timer, as well as the smell of the chemicals, are abiding childhood memories— “It doesn’t sound so great, but it’s a nostalgic thing for me.” What’s more, her mother painted the interior walls of the house the same shades as Ansel Adams’ zone system, taking the idea of “living with art” to a whole new level, and instilling in Young an early passion for her métier.
In addition to being surrounded by art and artists, she also recalls many dogs. “At one point, our two St. Bernards had seven puppies, so at that moment we had a total of 15 dogs in the house!” ONYVA asked Young to select for exhibition some of her favorite images of dogs that she’s taken over the years (she travels too much to have one herself right now), and to share a story, which she kindly did: “One of the photographs is from a stormy day on Revere Beach—a woman walking her white dog. It was very cold that day and the snow was very wet. Not ideal conditions, but I still went out, and the only picture I could get was of this woman. The only others on the beach were Channel 5 news, who interviewed me because I probably seemed like a crazy person out there taking pictures. It aired later in the day, which I only found out because friends texted me.”
To see more of Young’s work, check out @stephenieayoung.