Much has changed in the neighborhood since we first opened in 1981.  The neighborhood smelled sweetly of candymaking and Topp’s Donuts.  But the best thing was the quiet presence of the Polaroid Gallery across from what is now The Royal East, but was then Colleen’s Chinese restaurant.  When winter afternoons slowed to a crawl I could walk down the street and visit.  I have fond memories of the employee show -for heavens’ sake- when I would see photos taken by and of our many customers who worked at what was then Cambridge’s biggest company.  Sadly Polaroid is gone although there are efforts to revive the distinctive film.   It was at that gallery that I first encountered the beautiful, spiritual photos of Paul Caponigro.  The photogrpaher was born in East Boston and studied at Boston University.  He does not shoot exclusively with Polaroid film.  This summer I saw a wonderful selection of his work at Maine’s Farnsworth Museum.  Until October 4, The Pucker Gallery at 171 Newbury is showing more of his photography.

http://www.puckergallery.com/exhibitions.html