The Museum’s Upper Gallery will present a new exhibit of photographs by Jersey City’s Duquann Sweeney, starting with an opening reception from 2 – 5 pm on January 17.

The exhibition, “Dignity, Beauty and Everything Between,” will remain on view through March 7. The exhibit may be visited in person, as long as visitors wear masks and observe social distance. The Museum’s occupancy is limited under the current state guidelines. An artist’s talk will be archived on YouTube after Wednesday, Jan. 13, for those who can’t visit in person.

More details about the works on display will be posted soon; the photographer’s artist statement gives a sense of his approach to his work:

“My photographs are the reflections of my community, they are the beautiful people I see when I walk the streets. Also, they are a part of me, like a past memory that brings joy. Whenever I see young boys play, it reminds me of my childhood. The days when my friends and I would ride our bikes, race each other, and play football all day.

“I once was asked, ‘Why are you taking pictures? there’s nothing good here,’ and the question baffled me for a second. My response was, ‘You are good and so many others.’ But the question stuck with me, Why did he feel like there wasn’t anything good here? Has he been hampered by the negative views of the community? I’m not sure but I will make it my mission to show through my photography that people in my community are good, despite the challenging conditions.

“My artwork is all the things that make everyday living beautiful. My photographs are lovers in a park, a woman seated on a corner, girls playing in a fire hydrant to beat the summer heat. The beauty of life.”

See more of his work at duquannsweeney.com.

The exhibit is supported by a block grant from the State/County Partnership program for the Arts, administered by the Hudson County Division of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.