Welcome to The Villages, Florida's friendliest hometown

"Golf cart sales are big business in this community of nearly 110,000 residents within an area of 32 square miles. It is the preferred transportation vehicle."

Wall of Fame: My days at the ASCAP

"Often I spoke with concerned pet owners who mistakenly called the wrong number to report mistreatment to dogs or cats."

"Colleagues like Peter Burke in Los Angeles arranged many photography opportunities, such as the recording session of Neil Diamond’s 'Cracklin Rosie' hit, documenting songwriters Marilyn and Alan Bergman at their California home, among others. Above he is pictured with Stevie Wonder and fan in Atlantic City."

The House of Seven Gables

The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape enjoyed its winter stay at The House of Seven Gables in Salem. 

Read more about the exhibit in the excellent piece by Terry Date in the Salem News:

Chester found Fitzroy Alexander, 54, at a ceremony at the Immigrant Learning Center Inc. in Malden, where he was recognized as the Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014.

Alexander came to the U.S. at 16 years old and became a citizen 25 years ago. He’s the owner of Traditional Breads Inc., in Lynn, and employs 150 people.

Alexander said America means opportunity for those who work hard.

“It’s a land of opportunity — if you put your mind to it, anything is possible,” he said.

Alexander said he is biased toward Chester, a friend, and he holds Chester’s photo project in high esteem.

“I applaud it — having the stamina and integrity to really portray that person how he sees them,” Alexander said.

Fitzroy Alexander, Grenada, The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape Copyright © Mark Chester

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, 1970, Garden State Arts Center, NJ

Debbie was a friend of our family. My mother and she were good friends. When I was 23, I went to California dreaming of being a TV comedy writer. Ha! I was a houseguest in her Beverly Hills home in 1968. I will always remember everyone glued to the news of Robert Kennedy’s assassination. It was a traumatic time. I was in Hollywood, the ultimate limbo land, feeling like the Benjamin Braddock character in The Graduate film. The Vietnam War was escalating. Debbie helped me become an intern for TV host, writer, comedian, musician, Steve Allen, a role model of mine. I will always be grateful for her thoughtfulness and friendship; she was a positive influence on the path I eventually followed in becoming a photojournalist. Her passing one day after Carrie, who I remember as a precocious, cute, funny, easy going 14-year-old-going-on-20 girl, is a beautiful blessing in that she didn’t have to continue living with grief. Debbie will always be part of my life. Blessings to you both.

The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape on Patronicity

Patronicity Campaign Launch: The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape | Photographs of New Americans by Mark Chester

Monochrome: Black & White Photography from the Permanent Collection

D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts,  Springfield Museums

March 22, 2016–September 25, 2016

"Black and white photography, also known as ‘monochrome’ photography, originated during the mid-nineteenth century and has pervaded to this day, particularly within the genre of documentary photography. This exhibit, drawn from the permanent collection of the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, explores the documentary photography genre, juxtaposed with the special exhibit, Photo-Secession: Painterly Masterworks of turn-of-the-Century Photography. Photography critic in the 1970s, John Szarkowski, distilled images down to two categories, “mirrors and windows” stating that “mirrors reveal information about the artist while windows tell more about the world.” This exhibit exemplifies his philosophy and underscores the impact of black and white which elevates a picture beyond simply being “news”; monochrome photography has the power to suggest cultural and critical significance."

Mark Chester in Monochrome

 

NBAM HERITAGE GALLERY INSTALLATION

THE BAY STATE: A MULTICULTURAL LANDSCAPE OPENS IN NEW BEDFORD

The exhibit runs through March 20th. See the events listing for details. 

John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse Installation

The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape installed at the John Joseph Moakley US Courthouse at Fan Pier.

SOAPBOX WCCA TV13 FEATURES Olga Kwasniewski and Olta Korda of THE BAY STATE: A MULTICULTURAL LANDSCAPE

WCCA TV13 produced Soapbox show is hosted by WCCA Executive Director Mauro DePasquale. Mauro's guests are Olga Kwasniewski and Olta Kodra. The topic of discussion is immigration.

Olga and Olta represent The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape with their inspiring personal perspectives. 

THE BAY STATE: A MULTICULTURAL LANDSCAPE @ FALMOUTH MUSEUMS ON THE GREEN

Tue, Sep 1 - Sat, Oct 31 2015

Falmouth Museums on the Green
55 Palmer Ave
Falmouth, MA, 02540 United States

DIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE SCC

The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape — Photographs of New Americans by Mark Chester was introduced in the Scandinavian Cultural Center's Nordic Hall to a diverse group, some in attendance participants in the project and others observers. The photographer, introduced by the SCC's cultural director, Christina Mealy, spoke of his inspiration and his mission to amass portraits of naturalized US citizens from the many countries of the world who reside in Massachusetts, for a book and exhibition, an example on display in the hall, that, with the book's publication, will launch  at the New Bedford Art Museum. Three of the portrait subjects were invited up to the podium and each spoke movingly of the work and reasons for being involved.

Westy Egmont, Boston College professor and director of BC's Immigrant Integration Lab then gave an informative talk "exploring the history and current story of those who started life again in the States and made America the 'nation of nations' we know," entitled “Up the Golden Stairs: Dreams of Being American”.  

The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape Photographs of New Americans By Mark Chester

“As you know it took him 30 years to become a citizen. He was so excited and we celebrated at a nearby bistro…. I do want to tell you that you made him feel so special that day. You added so much excitement to the day, signalling him out and taking pictures that he was so proud of and showed everyone. He even remembered that you told a woman who wanted to take pictures that this was a private session. He would tell everyone that the pictures were going into a professional book about immigration.”

–Patricia Anderson

Luis Edward Lozano-Pazmino of Hyannis was born in Ecuador in 1930 and became a citizen of the United States in 2013. He passed away on December 31, 2013 during a visit to Ecuador.

The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape is a moving and powerful exhibit of more than 300 newly naturalized U.S. citizens who are residents of the Commonwealth. These inspirational photographic portraits create a visual archive celebrating the diversity of Massachusetts’ citizens from 160 countries around the globe. A Multicultural Landscape enriches the viewer by sharing the vast cultural resources and rich ethnic heritage of the Bay State’s 351 towns and cities.