Barstow’s is a small family owned business and we are committed to supporting other local farmers, local crafters, and local artists. Our walls are reserved for the art of local painters, sketchers, and photographers – giving us a beautiful and unique perspective on the area that we live and love. Visit us to enjoy lunch, soak in the rural views, and view the local art of your creative neighbors!
Are you interested in becoming our Featured Artist? Contact us!
Jennifer Ablard
March 28, 2025 - May 14, 2025
Jennifer has always made art. But photography is her love. Her first darkroom photography experience was in 9th grade. She minored in Studio Art in college and continued to make photographs for the next few decades! The rediscovery of cyanotype printing reignited her love of photography. This alternative photographic process is a hands-on medium which does not heavily rely on a computer to create. After the pandemic she decided to pursue her love full time. The source Jennifer’s photographs are drawn from a lifetime of work. She loves seeing old work in a new light.
She currently has exhibit space at the Mill district Local Art Gallery in North Amherst MA. She has taught workshops here as well as with the Western Massachusetts Master Gardeners Association.
Description of the Art:
Jennifer’s body of work is an exploration of the process of making cyanotypes. A light-sensitive emulsion is applied to durable paper. Then a photograph negative, plant material or other solid object is placed on the paper, and the arrangement is exposed to UV light. After exposure the print is processed using tap water. There are variations to this process such as using wet paper, double exposure, moving the objects during the exposure process. It can feel like EVERY print is the result of an experiment. Each print is unique, subject to the variables of length of exposure to UV light and the technique used to apply the chemistry! Her Photography is inspired by the love of the outdoors, nature, and the abstract and patterns found in everyday life. Her work evokes questions of ‘where?’, ‘how?’ and ‘what?’.
EXHIBITIONS and awards
2025 Group show Curran and Keegan Financial Hadley MA
2025 Featured Artist Hampshire Regional Y Northampton MA
2025 Best of Show Anza Borrego State Park foundation photography contest Borrego Springs, CA
2024 Commissioned work for Northampton Survival center annual postcard series: Family Dinner Northampton MA
2023 Guest Artist Saw Mill River Arts. May-June. Montague MA
2022-2024, current Exhibiting Artist Mill District Local Art Gallery Amherst MA
2024, 2023, 2022, 2017, 2016 Sawmill River Arts Gallery Small Works Exhibit and Sale. Montague MA
2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017 Small Works Show Hope and Feathers Framing. Amherst, MA
2022 “Homage to the Egg” Gateway City Arts Small Works Gallery Holyoke MA
2020 Solo Show “Landscape of Old Springfield Road” Curran and Keegan Financial. Northampton MA
2020 Vision 20/20 Group Exhibit Northampton Cooperative Bank. Florence MA
2016 Featured Artist Shadow and Light River Valley Coop Cafe. Northampton MA
2016 Solo Show Bliss Cafe. Easthampton MA
2016 Juried Exhibition Gallery A3. Amherst MA
2016 “Apple Tree Over Time” Group Show. Hosmer Gallery@Forbes Library. Northampton MA
2015 “Memories” Juried Show. Gallery 529. Littleton MA
2015 “Beyond the Classroom” Group Show. ArtSpace. Maynard MA
2015 “Artifact” Juried Group Show. ArtSpace. Maynard MA
2015 “Transportation” Group Show. Worcester Alliance Photographers. Worcester MA