February | March 2010 - Boston Photography Focus

essayStephen DiRado, Greer Showing Off Her Arbus at Salon, Worcester, MA, March 31, 2009The Magic of SalonBy Stephen DiRadoFor at least eighteen or so years my kitchen table has beenhome to a salon. What started out for a modest group to decompressafter a long day of teaching, eventually evolved intoa mix of creative people—the famous, the not so famous andpatrons seeking community, friendship, and conversation. It ispart of the fabric of my life and a ritual savored by all of us.Once a week, around 9pm a loyalgroup of about fifteen people (rangingin age from their mid 20s to late70s) set up chairs and in the truestdefinition of Salon engage in stimulatingconversations about art, life andpolitics. Throughout the evening anotherfive or ten people casually strollin and find a place to sit or stand;occupying a room designed to hold adozen people at best.The house rules are simple; rich orpoor, leave your ego at the door andcontribute something to the table: abottle, chips or a sampling of cheesewill do. There is no agenda and youare welcome to come to hold court—observe, participate, and or anythingin between.As I look back over the years, I’mamazed at the collection of humanitythat has graced this table. In the earlyyears, it used to be primarily photographersand a few patrons of the arts.Over time, the guest list expandedto include; painters, sculptors, arthistorians, musicians, cultural leaders,bohemians, foreigners, journalists,photojournalists, science and humanitiesprofessors, theater directors,television/movie directors, actors,a playwright or two—and a quirkyscientist. In the truest definition ofSalon we are enriched by stimulatingconversation, sometimes driven byart or creativity, other times sports orfood. New friendships form, collaborationscome about, personal relationshipsevolve.Cameras are frequent guests at Salon.They attempt to record poignant moments.Because as we all know, nothingstays the same forever. Everythingeventually ends.www.prcboston.org > 7