New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
For the Documerica Project (1971 – 1977), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hired freelance photographers to capture pictures of environmental problems, EPA activities and everyday life in the 1970’s. These images were intended to establish a visual baseline against which progress could be measured.
In 2011, the EPA invited citizens to submit photographs to update the record. This photo project, called State of the Environment, includes “Then and Now” images taken nearly 40 years apart.
The Ocean Explorium has been chosen to exhibit some of the most compelling images, from both the Documerica and State of the Environment series. For a few days only, several photographs will be on view before moving on to another location.
“The Ocean Explorium is fortunate to be able to showcase these amazing images. When the opportunity was presented to us on Thursday afternoon, we could not say no! The exhibit will be installed on Saturday and will be dismantled on Tuesday, so it is important we get the word out so folks can see these beautiful photographs” according to Abbey Spargo, Education Programs Coordinator.
In the meantime, it is not too late to participate in the EPA photo project. Readers who feel inspired may join the EPA State of the Environment photo project or view the photo archives at: http://blog.epa.gov/epplocations.
