Mary Roberts

2022 Senior Exhibition Artists

Mary Roberts

Art + Design: Photography | Art History Minor

About Mary Roberts

Mary Roberts is a photographer from Springfield, Massachusetts currently living in the New Bedford area. She received her BFA in Photography from the College of Visual & Performing Arts at UMass Dartmouth with a minor in Art History in 2022. Her work is focused on the relationship between people and their environment. In her spare time she is active in her community and enjoys spending time outside with her cats.

New Bedford 14, 2022, commercial fishing boat at New Bedford harbor, 11 x 17 archival pigment print

Statement

For as long as I can remember I’ve always been fascinated in the way the cities I’ve lived in have transformed over time. I often found myself wondering what these cities were like generations ago, and how their history compares to their current state. The “before and after” of these places, the way the economy and cultures have changed, has always intrigued me.

My capstone project focuses on the present state of post-industrial Massachusetts towns and cities that I have lived or gone to school in. I’m interested in the way these cities have been overlooked since the decline of their once flourishing industries, and how they are completely different now. What intrigued me most is uncovering the contemporary culture and communities of these cities and what has been left over since their respective industries have disappeared or reduced. My photographs are influenced by documentary style work, which can capture the essence of a place and the people who live there.

To complete this project, I visited four Massachusetts cities that are historically known for substantial wealth directly resulting from a particular industry. I focused on New Bedford, Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee, four cities to which I have a personal connection. I spent time exploring each city by foot and making photographs from the street that I feel capture the overlooked elements of the towns and cities, revealing the culture of the past and present. Through my work I hope to unveil components of these environments such as wealth disparity, employment prospects, and the day to day lives of the locals.