JAN 2026 / Rich Dodge Photography

JAN 2026 / Rich Dodge Photography

Exhibition: Jan 20 - Feb 1, 2026
Location: IAC Gallery, Bay Shore, NY
ATTEND THE RECEPTION: SUNDAY, FEB 1 / 1-3pm  / FREE TO THE PUBLIC


ARTIST STATEMENT
These portraits aren’t about confidence.
They’re about permission.

Most of the women you see here didn’t arrive feeling ready.
They arrived as they were, unsure, guarded, hopeful.
What mattered wasn’t how they looked.
It was how they were treated.

I’m not interested in performance.
I’m interested in presence.

My work happens when someone realizes they don’t have to pose,
impress, or prove anything.
When the body relaxes.
When the face stops asking for approval.
When a woman simply allows herself to be seen.

I believe photography can be an act of care.
That being witnessed, without pressure, can change how someone sees herself.

These images are quiet on purpose.
Nothing is being demanded.
Nothing is being forced.

This work is a reminder that you don’t need to be confident to be photographed.
You just need to be treated with care.

 




 

Founded in 1974, the Islip Arts Council is dedicated to leadership, advocacy, and excellence in the arts. Our goal is to present, produce, and promote culturally responsive, high quality programs in varied artistic disciplines for our diverse Long Island community.
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