Sackett plotting his next project

Published 8:00 pm Wednesday, December 7, 2005

He begins with a look at his most recent photos, now on display.

To help him figure out his next move, Joel Sackett is taking another look at his latest photography.

Sackett’s recent book, “An Island in Time,” showcases stirring black-and-white portraits of islanders in their natural habitat.

He mixes some of those photos with outtakes and new photography that is in the spirit of the book – the next step, as it were – for an exhibit at the Harbour Public House.

“It’s some of the pictures that interest me, that indicate to me what the island is (and) what it’s about,” Sackett said. “I needed to see these pictures in a different format than the book. It’s seeing where I’m going.”

And, he added, it’s “about the stewardship of my history.”

“It’s interesting to try to figure out what’s interesting. I project myself into the future and look back,” he said. “I have a fine arts background. Recently, I’ve gotten more interested in history. History and art, those crossroads.”

Sackett has lived on Bainbridge for 15 years and has witnessed a lot of changes – all of which are predictable, he said.

He sees the connection between his work and the community and views the public’s reaction as a bonus.

The work is here for people to enjoy now and, he hopes, it will become a legacy for generations to follow.

Although he knows he can’t foretell what young people now will revere in years to come, he maintains an optimistic point of view.

“I trust that there will be a future for our art, our artifacts…of what life was like now,” he said. “I’m kind of inspired and grounded by that.”

The island, Sackett said, gives him “an opportunity to see something finite.”

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Island images

Joel Sackett’s photography will be on exhibit at the Harbour Public House on Parfitt Way through December. Phone 842-0969 or see www.harbourpub.com for more information. For more on Sackett, see www.joelsackettphotography.com.