Photography Exhibit: Off the Hill, Portraits from within the Fitchburg Community

Library Background
Posted:

From November 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026, join us on the first floor of the Library for an exhibit of photography by local artist Ricardo Barros. Barros is a photographer, writer, curator, and filmmaker. His works are in the permanent collections of eleven museums, including The Smithsonian Museum of American Art, Museum of Art of São Paulo, Harvard Art Museums, and Fitchburg Art Museum. In 2004 Barros published Facing Sculpture: A Portfolio of Portraits, Sculpture and Related Ideas, with an introduction by Nick Capasso. Barros was awarded a Fellowship in Photography by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in 1984 and 2021. In 2024 he received the Marlene and David Persky Present Tense Prize from ArtsWorcester for work exemplifying new practices, artistic risk-taking, and excellencein execution.

The following is the curatorial statement from Barros for the exhibit, titled Off the Hill: 

"The town surrounding a university may feel like a static backdrop to student life. It isn’t easy to compete with the challenge and exhilaration of the college experience. But, as these photographs demonstrate, Fitchburg is anything but static, and there are many people “Off the Hill” from whom we may learn much, including the genius of agency, passion, and community engagement. 

Agency is the power of an individual to make choices and act on them, directing the unique course of their path. Passion is a heartfelt desire that compels us to take action. Community engagement is a willingness to join the collective effort for our inclusive, mutual well-being. 

We learn about history, ideas, and problem-solving strategies in a classroom. But learning does not end with a college degree, and we continue to grow when we discover new ways to learn. Take a moment to look and read about the people portrayed in this exhibition. We hope that they inspire you to look beyond your laptop screens, to see beyond the campus, and witness many times over that an individual’s effort can make a difference. We hope these photographs and stories help illuminate your path to belonging and engagement."

An opening reception for the exhibit will be held November 18, 2025 at 3:30 PM on the first floor of the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library. It will include an artist talk, and is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.