Xiomaro Signs Publishing Deal for Book on Street Photography

Xiomaro, an artist whose National Park photography is widely exhibited in the U.S. and abroad, signed a contract with Fonthill Media, a leading publisher in England.  Under the worldwide agreement, the artist will author a book of his New York City street photographs set to be released in 2025.  Xiomaro’s book will spearhead Fonthill Media’s new series “Photographer’s America,” and will be part of the artist’s international ramp-up to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration in 2026.

The book will feature approximately 160 color and black-and-white images capturing the essence of New York City’s streets.  Xiomaro’s unique perspective delves beyond iconic landmarks, focusing on the daily lives and diverse interactions within Manhattan’s cramped 23 square miles.  “New York City’s Broadway, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square are among the icons drawing visitors across the U.S. and around the world – but for me, the real attraction is the evocative mash-up of people who live, work, and play within its gritty streets,” said Xiomaro.  The collection offers a glimpse into the rich diversity of daily life, showcasing a variety of scenes from ordinary moments to mysterious and enigmatic scenarios.  The photographs, all unstaged and free of AI manipulations, freeze the dynamic human condition for examination in ways that cannot be appreciated within the city’s real-time chaotic energy.

Times Square, New York City © 2024 Xiomaro.com

Xiomaro (pronounced SEE-oh-MAH-ro) is best known for his fine art photographic collections commissioned by the National Park Service, which have been covered by the New York Times, Fine Art Connoisseur magazine and network television news programs. His first book, Weir Farm National Historic Site (Arcadia Publishing) featured Connecticut’s first national park and his work at Morristown National Historical Park was the subject of the PBS documentary, Xiomaro Captures Morristown.  Those photographs were exhibited last year at Morris Museum and can be seen at the park’s Jockey Hollow Visitor Center.  A retrospective of the artist’s work is also on view, until March 18, throughout the entire fourth floor of the Morris County Administration and Records Building at 10 Court Street, Morristown, New Jersey.

Xiomáro

So how did street photography become part of his oeuvre?  In 2015, Xiomaro decided he did not want to wait until the next commission before he could engage in artistic photography.  To keep his creative vision and camera skills sharp, he started photographing his daily encounters in Manhattan – and the very best of that collection of personal work will comprise his second book for Fonthill Media.  By focusing his collection on candid and artistic portrayals of Big Apple life during the first quarter of the 21st century, the book will capture contemporary times, portraying what Xiomaro terms “future history.”  

“Think of it as a photographic time capsule,” adds Xiomaro, which he explains will set the book apart from others featuring mid-century street photography or staged street portraits accompanied by interviews that provide viewers with less to engage their imagination.  “I’m putting together a book that appeals to a broad readership, including lovers of visual art and history, as well as travelers and casual smartphone photographers.”

Xiomaro’s “Ghost Walkers” on View at Glasgow Gallery of Photography

The work of New York artist Xiomaro (SEE-oh-MAH-row) returns to the Glasgow Gallery of Photography with his “Ghost Walkers” image.  The print is on view until December 23 as part of the “Masters of Street Photography” international exhibition. 

“Ghost Walkers, New York City” | © 2023 Xiomaro.com

“Ghost Walkers” depicts disembodied white and pink sneakers – even bare feet – strolling across the frame within wisps of yellow and white.  Photographed in New York City’s chaotic Times Square, the otherworldly image was created solely using an iPhone 7 and without using any Photoshop, filters, or other manipulations. 

Having had three of his photographs exhibited at the gallery in the past, Xiomaro decided to make his first-time visit to Glasgow to see the show in person, engage in local street photography, and to photograph the atmospheric conditions at Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park. 

“Virginia Street, Glasgow” | © 2023 Xiomaro.com

In America, the artist is best known for his photographic collections commissioned by the U.S. National Park Service, which the New York Times described as having an “unorthodox look” and a “focus on striking details.”  His work artistically documents at-risk environments such as Florida’s Everglades, historical sites such as George Washington’s Headquarters, and cultural sites such as Julian Alden Weir’s home and art studio, which was the subject of his first book “Weir Farm National Historic Site” (Arcadia Publishing). 

“Loch Lomond, Balloch” | © 2023 Xiomaro.com

His museum exhibitions, talks, and workshops help raise public awareness of the history, culture, and natural beauty while his street photography artistically documents what he refers to as “future history.”  The effort has garnered the attention of American network television news programs and a short film produced by the U.S. National Park Service.

“Arrochar Parish Church, Loch Lomond, Arrochar” | © 2023 Xiomaro.com

“I’d like to expand and draw public attention to the rich history and beauty I have encountered in the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the bucolic paths of Loch Lomond at Balloch, Arrochar, and Tarbet,” explained Xiomaro.  “I’ve had a long interest in Scotland.  Growing up, my parents were close friends with a Scottish family from whom I heard so much about the country.  And through my work with the U.S. National Park Service, I learned about John Muir, an influential naturalist, Robert Weir, the patriarch of an artistic family dynasty, as well as John Witherspoon and James Wilson, signers of the Declaration of Independence – all of them are Scottish-born.”

Xiomáro

Before overcoming cancer and pursuing photography, Xiomaro was an entertainment attorney and managed celebrity recording artists such as Village People and Lisa Lisa.  As a musician, one of his songs reached the Top 40 of American Idol Underground.  His second book will feature his New York City street photography and is expected to be released next year by a London-based publisher.  In the meantime, he is already making plans to return to Scotland to continue building a collection of street and national park photographs for international exhibition.

“Masters of Street Photography” is free of charge to the public and is on view now until December 23, 2023.  The exhibition is presented by the Glasgow Gallery of Photography located at 57 Glassford Street, Glasgow.  For visiting hours, visit www.glasgowgalleryofphotography.com.  For information about Xiomaro, visit www.xiomaro.com.

National Parks, City Life, and Virginia Woolf Inspire Xiomaro’s New Jersey Photo Exhibits

Xiomaro, an internationally exhibited photographer, is showcasing two new exhibits for Hispanic Heritage Month and continuing through the new year.

“Xiomaro’s GIANT Portfolio” presents 43 large-scale photographs revealing the breadth and scope of his career.  The collection includes his many National Park Service commissions and his independent personal work.



National Park photographs offer rare views of historic rooms, sites, and artifacts of iconic American political leaders and cultural figures.  Landscape and wildlife images provide an organic counterpoint.  Personal work includes street photography capturing the daily lives playing out in a variety of ephemeral scenes.  Melancholic images suggest alienation and loneliness in a city of millions, contrasted with personal interactions of joy, wonder, and creativity.

The exhibition is presented in the Atrium Gallery’s 4th floor main room, hallway, and elevator lobby.  The gallery is within the Morris County Administration and Records Building at 10 Court Street, which has an airy layout described as a “square Guggenheim.”  The show opens with a free public reception within the larger “Mystery, Memory & Magic” exhibition on September 28, 2023 (6:00 pm to 8:00 pm) and remains on view until January 9, 2024.  Gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm,  and Thursdays open until 7:30 pm.  Details are posted at http://www.xiomaro.com.

“Xiomaro’s Street Haunting” presents 16 candid photographs that explore the gritty, kinetic swirl of energy and diversity in New York City.  The exhibit was inspired by Virginia Woolf’s 1927 essay, “Street Haunting,” a literary sketch about the ordinary and transient scenes of daily life.  In Xiomaro’s photographs, dramatic, weird, and ghostly moments are captured.  Despite the hallucinatory feel, the images were not manipulated with Photoshop or filters.



Xiomaro’s solo exhibition is presented in the Starlight Gallery at the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) as part of a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration with concerts by the Gypsy Kings, the Broadway stars of “Hamilton,” and Disney’s “Coco” live-to-film screening.  The artist, of Cuban-Puerto Rican descent, notes that his “Street Haunting” exhibit also overlaps with Halloween, the Mexican community’s anticipation of The Day of the Dead, and diminishing daylight as we turn back the clocks.  “So I thought it was fitting to select my darker street photographs for the show.” 

The Gallery is open to ticket holders prior to shows, during intermission, by appointment, and every Tuesday afternoon from noon to 2:00 pm.  MPAC is located at 100 South Street, and the exhibition is on view from October 16 to November 28, 2023.  Details are posted at http://www.xiomaro.com.

About Xiomaro.  For the past decade, Xiomaro (SEE-oh-MAH-ro) has been commissioned by the National Park Service to create photographic works of important architecture, environments, and collections to raise awareness of their history and beauty while his street photography documents “future history.” 



Harvard University, Morris Museum, and many institutions in the U.S., England, Scotland, and Italy have exhibited and collected his work.  Xiomaro is a frequent guest on ABC, CBS, and News 12 television programs and his work has been reported by the New York Times, the Boston Globe, and Fine Art Connoisseur magazine.  Documentaries by PBS and Fox Nation have featured him and his art.  Xiomaro has authored a book of his images released by Arcadia Publishing with a foreword written by Senator Joseph I. Lieberman.  Before overcoming cancer and pursuing photography, Xiomaro represented and managed celebrity recording artists such as Village People and Lisa Lisa.  As a musician, one of his songs reached the Top 40 of American Idol Underground.   More information about the artist is posted at his website:  http://www.xiomaro.comhttp://www.xiomaro.com.

Museum’s Photography Exhibit Honors Sacrifices by Nation’s Famed and Unsung Heroes

A thought-provoking photography exhibition at a New Jersey museum invites the public to reflect on and honor all the brave individuals who gave their lives in service of the country. 

Through a collection of 21 large-scale photographs and a compelling clip from a New Jersey PBS episode, the Morris Museum, founded in 1913 and the only Smithsonian affiliate in the state, commemorates the initial sacrifices during the Revolutionary War – a price that continues to be paid in subsequent battles for liberty.

The At Home With George exhibition presents contemporary fine art photographs of Washington’s military headquarters at the Ford Mansion, the site of the nation’s first historical park established by Congress and President Herbert Hoover within the National Park System.

“As we approach Memorial Day on May 29th and Independence Day on July 4th, my photographs aim to not only highlight the natural connection between General Washington and these significant dates but also pay tribute to the often-overlooked men and women who lost their lives or endured extreme hardship through the decades in the fight for freedom,” explains Xiomaro, the artist commissioned by the National Park Service over five years to create the first and only artistic photographic collection of Morristown National Historical Park. 



The thread recognizing these sacrifices emerged in 1971 when Decoration Day, originally observed in remembrance of Civil War soldiers, was expanded and renamed Memorial Day to honor all fallen U.S. military heroes.



Xiomaro’s photographs poignantly and dramatically contrast the varying hardships experienced depending on the chain of command and societal structures of the colonial era.  One of the striking images on view reveals Theodosia Ford’s bedroom, repurposed as sleeping quarters for Washington and his wife, Martha.  Theodosia was a widow who selflessly offered her home as a military headquarters.  She chose to sleep in the dining room with her daughter while her three boys were cramped in the library.  Another photograph showcases a small room where Washington’s aides and visiting dignitaries squeezed onto narrow cots.



While these accommodations were spartan, the rank-and-file soldiers encamped in nearby Jockey Hollow faced the harshest conditions.  A rare close-up unveils the rustic interior of a reproduction log hut that housed up to 12 soldiers within a claustrophobic space measuring only 14 feet by 16 feet. Yet another photograph of a hut, set in the snow, captures the life-threatening conditions suffered during one of the most severe winters of the century.



“Xiomaro’s photography is distinctive.  His images are composed from unique vantage points typically unseen by the public while his use of natural light captures the experience of living in the 1700s, where interior spaces were often dimly lit,” explains Anne Ricculli, Ph.D., the Director of Exhibits and Collections who curated the exhibition with the support of Curatorial Interns Emily Rainbolt, Elizabeth Shack, and Jamie Zurek.  The collection, with more than half never being printed and publicly exhibited, is uniquely displayed in the Bush-Compton Gallery with subdued lighting suggesting a period-appropriate candlelight ambiance.  “As if walking into a dark room, the viewer’s eyesight must adjust to see all the details.”



For the past 12 years, Xiomaro (pronounced SEE-oh-MAH-ro) has specialized in photographing iconic historical sites to raise awareness of their history, culture, and natural beauty.  He is the author of Weir Farm National Historic Site (Arcadia Publishing) with a foreword by Senator Joseph Lieberman.  The artist’s work has been exhibited at Harvard University as well as in museums and galleries across the United States, Scotland, and Italy.  Xiomaro frequently appears as a guest on mainstream television news outlets, including ABC, CBS, and News 12.  A rock musician, he turned to art photography after recovering from cancer, which prompted his departure from a career as an entertainment attorney representing Village People and other celebrity recording artists.  To symbolize the transformative experience and to acknowledge his Cuban and Puerto Rican roots, he adopted the pseudonym “Xiomaro,” said to mean “ready for battle.”

At Home With George is on view now until July 30, 2023, at Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, New Jersey, with support provided by The Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation.  For more information, visit www.xiomaro.com or the museum’s website  https://morrismuseum.org/on-view/current/at-home-with-george.

At Home with George

Washington’s Morristown Winter, 1779–1780

2023 marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of Morristown National Historical Park as the first historical park in the National Park Service. To celebrate this anniversary, the Morristown National Historical Park commissioned the photo-artist Xiomáro to document the architecture of the Ford Mansion and the Jockey Hollow site “to reintroduce the park to the rapidly changing global and local communities it serves in the 21st-century.”



The Morris Museum exhibition, At Home with George: Washington’s Morristown Winter, 1779–1780, features the artist’s photography with its innovative use of natural light and his unique perspective of historical sites. Through his photography, Xiomáro documents areas of the buildings typically unseen by the public, resulting in photographs that capture the Ford Mansion’s dual role as domestic space and Washington’s 1779-1780 Revolutionary War headquarters.

Xiomáro (SEE-oh-MAH-ro) specializes in photographing iconic historical sites to raise awareness of their history, culture, and natural beauty. He is the author of Weir Farm National Historic Site with a foreword by Senator Joseph Lieberman. Xio’s work has been exhibited at venues such as Harvard University, Fraunces Tavern Museum, Long Island Museum, Fruitlands Museum, and galleries in Scotland and Italy. His work has been reported by The New York TimesFine Art Connoisseur magazine, PBS and other major television news networks, and publications in the United Kingdom and Greece.

Originally broadcast on PBS – State of the Arts

At Home with George: Washington’s Morristown Winter, 1779–1780 is curated by Anne Ricculli, Ph.D., Director of Exhibits and Collections with the support of Curatorial Interns Emily Rainbolt, Elizabeth Shack, and Jamie Zurek.

The related video was generously provided by State of the ArtsState of the Arts is a co-production of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Stockton University, in cooperation with PCK Media.

Exhibition support is provided by The Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation.

For more information, visit the artist’s website (www.xiomaro.com) and the museum’s website (www.morrismuseum.org)

Exhibit by Xiomaro on Permanent Display at Morristown National Historical Park

A new rotating photography exhibit is now on permanent display at Morristown National Historical Park’s Jockey Hollow Visitor Center to celebrate the park’s 90th anniversary, its rich history, and the legacy of the American Revolution.  The collection of images was created by Xiomaro, who has worked with the park as an artist-in-residence.



The celebration also recognizes the park’s role in the historic preservation movement by which history became a public good.  On March 2, 1933, President Herbert Hoover signed the legislation establishing Morristown National Historical Park as the first such designated historical park in the National Park system.  Since then, 62 other historical parks have been created. 

PBS produced a segment highlighting some of the many photographs that are now part of the permanent exhibition.

The photographs in the exhibit were created by Xiomaro over a five year period to artistically showcase the beauty and historical significance of the park.  The large format prints present unique perspectives of the Jockey Hollow landscape, the architecture of the iconic Ford Mansion, and the rarely seen interiors of the Cross Estate Mansion. 

Xiomaro is an internationally recognized artist and published author who has been featured in numerous media outlets in the United States, England, and Greece.  Museums and galleries throughout the nation, Italy, and Scotland have exhibited his work.  After recovering from cancer, Xiomaro left his prior career as an entertainment attorney and found his calling during an artist-in-residence program, which resulted in his book Weir Farm National Historic Site (Arcadia Publishing) with a foreword by Senator Joseph I. Lieberman.

The exhibition was funded by a grant to the park from the New Jersey Society of the Cincinnati.  The Society of Cincinnati was formed in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and named in honor of Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a Roman soldier who relinquished his dictatorial power and returned to his farm – an outstanding example of service to the greater good, civic virtue, humility, and modesty. Today, with over 4,400 members in the United States, France, and more than 25 nations, the Society is the nation’s oldest patriotic organization and promotes better understanding and appreciation of the American Revolution and its legacy.  

“The New Jersey Society is very proud to partner with Morristown National Historical Park to support Xiomaro’s exhibit celebrating the events that occurred on Jockey Hollow during the Revolution,” said John Shannon, Society president.

For more information, visit the websites of the artist (www.xiomaro.com), the park (www.nps.gov/morr/index.htm) and the society (https://njcincinnati.org/).

Xiomaro’s New England Trail Photographs on Exhibit at the Connecticut General Assembly

The New England National Scenic Trail, a solo photographic exhibition by Xiomaro showcasing the Connecticut portion of the historic hiking route, will be on view April 3 to 14, 2023, at the Connecticut General Assembly’s Legislative Office Building located at 300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford.

A selection of over 40 large prints will occupy 250 feet of wall space, which visitors can view from either a moving walkway or by strolling up the corridor that links the Legislative Office Building and the Capitol Building, Connecticut’s seat of government.  The immersive experience will introduce visitors to the scenic diversity of fields, forests, river valleys, and mountains encountered along the New England National Scenic Trail – also known as the “NET.”



Designated by the U.S. Congress as a national scenic trail in 2009, the 215-mile passage stretches through 39 communities from the Long Island Sound in Connecticut to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.  Although long known to America’s first landscape painters and adventurers, “Connecticut’s 110-mile portion of the trail is still being discovered by residents who enjoy hiking, walking, and nature,” explained Xiomaro (pronounced “SEE-oh-MAH-ro”). 



Through the unique perspectives of the artist’s photographs, viewers will virtually hike the NET in various seasons and weather conditions to encounter Connecticut’s large-scale beauty.  But what Xiomaro finds compelling about the trail is more than the sublime long-distance vistas of mountains, valleys, and forests dotted with rural towns.  As explained in Unseen Beauty, a short film produced by the National Park Service (NPS), Xiomaro’s images reveal the smallest overlooked details of the trail’s range of diverse ecosystems.  Interesting historic landmarks near the NET are also featured.  



Xiomaro was commissioned in 2016 as a Centennial Artist-in-Residence by the NPS and its partners – the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and the Appalachian Mountain Club – for a year-long project to create an artistic photographic collection of the trail in celebration of the NPS’s 100th anniversary.  A few images from the collection – consisting of 223 photographs in both Connecticut and Massachusetts – have been published over the past seven years.  The 40-plus Connecticut images to be displayed in Hartford, however, comprise the first formal public exhibition.



Xiomaro is an internationally recognized and exhibited artist specializing in photographing iconic American sites to raise awareness of their history, culture, and natural beauty.  He is the author of Weir Farm National Historic Site (Arcadia Publishing) with a foreword by Senator Joseph Lieberman.  The artist’s work has been exhibited at venues such as Harvard University, Fraunces Tavern Museum, Long Island Museum, and Fruitlands Museum, as well as galleries in Scotland and Italy. 



The exhibit is free of charge and is on view from April 3 to 14, 2023, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, at the Legislative Office Building, 300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106.  The exhibition is presented by the artist with the support of the National Park Service, Connecticut Forest and Park Association, Connecticut Land Conservation Council, and Friends of Keney Park.  For more information, visit www.xiomaro.com.
 

From Landscapes to Streets – a Weir Farm Artist’s Journey

For the past decade, Xiomaro has been creating photographic collections for the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Weir Farm National Historical Park – where he has served as its Visiting Artist – and other organizations.  The work culminated in a photo/history book he authored with a foreword by Senator Joseph I. Lieberman.  Although the artist is still creating images of bucolic National Parks, his unusual and gritty urban images are gaining recognition and will be part of group exhibits in Connecticut and Scotland.

Xiomáro | Photo: Barbara Cittadino

Xiomáro, like many commuters, maintains a physical presence in New York City for work.  Even Julian Alden Weir, who painted world-renown masterpieces on the property now preserved as Connecticut’s first national park, regularly took the train to the world’s art center.  But for Xiomáro, the city itself also provides a landscape that inspires creativity.

In Sixth Avenue, he presents a surreal view by photographing the street through the reflections of an all-glass bus shelter.  The image will be featured in the December 28, 2022 issue of Street Photography Magazine and a large print is part of a group exhibition at The Mayor’s Gallery in Stamford.

Sixth Avenue | © 2022 Xiomaro.com

Newsstand is another photograph that is garnering attention and will be on view at Scotland’s Glasgow Gallery of Photography.  A sphinx-like figure, surrounded by the clutter, practically blends in with his inventory.

Newsstand | © 2022 Xiomaro.com

For Xiomáro, who was described in a recent PBS segment as “a historian through the lens,” Newsstand is a good example of its connection with his National Park photography of Weir Farm, George Washington’s headquarters, and other iconic sites. 

“Through my street photography, I am artistically documenting what I like to refer to as ‘future history,’” he explains.  “With more people getting their information online, today’s newsstands carry few papers and magazines and, as seen in the photograph, are selling mostly soft drinks, snacks, and candy.  As a result, only 276 newsstands remain in Manhattan from the 1,500 in their 1950s heyday.  These once-familiar sites are anachronisms that may eventually disappear altogether.”

More of Xiomáro’s photography can be seen at his website:  www.xiomaro.comSixth Avenue is on view from November 8, 2022 to January 6, 2023 as part of A Look Back, a retrospective group exhibition curated by Lina Morielli at The Mayor’s Gallery, Government Center, 888 Washington Blvd., 10th floor, Stamford, Connecticut.  Parking on site is handicap accessible.  The exhibition is free of charge, but by appointment only on weekdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The opening reception, on November 17, 2022 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm., is also free of charge.  Contact esgordon@optonline.net.

Rediscovering Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park (“MNHP”) celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2023.  This historic milestone presents an opportunity for MNHP – the nation’s first designated historical park – to reintroduce itself to the rapidly changing global and local communities it serves in the 21st century.

Xiomaro
Xiomáro
Photo by Janet Pellegrini

To lead the commemoration period beginning in 2022, the National Park Service commissioned the nationally recognized New York artist, musician, and author Xiomaro (pronounced See-oh-ma-ro) to create fine art photographs of the park’s key features:  the Ford Mansion, Jockey Hollow, and the Cross Estate Mansion/New Jersey Brigade area.

All 2022 Events Are Free

  • June 4 (10 am to 2 pm) Join Xiomaro, the park’s artist-in-residence with a kickoff meet and greet at the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center.

  • June 11 (2 pm to 4 pm) Xiomaro will host a photo walk along Jockey Hollow’s Wick Farm and Grand Parade Trail. 
  • June 18 (2 pm to 3 pm) Xiomaro will present a live café-style, family friendly concert at the Washington’s Headquarters Museum. He will be accompanied by Saint, a singer-songwriter he is producing.  The concert will incorporate an illustrated talk about his National Park photography and its connections with his music. 

For details and a free souvenir print visit www.xiomaro.com or contact Morristown National Historical Park at (862) 400-5972.

Ford Mansion Credit - Xiomaro.jpg
2d Floor:  Aides’ and Guests’ Bedroom - Table and Folding Camp Cot
Ford Mansion: 2d Floor:  Aides’ and Guests’ Bedroom – Table and Folding Camp Cot. Photo © 2022 Xiomaro.com

The Details

  1. June 4 (10 am to 2 pm) Meet the artist at Jockey Hollow Visitor Center at Tempe Wick Road, Morristown.
  2. June 11 (2 pm to 4 pm) Join the artist for a photo walk & talk at Jockey Hollow Visitor Center.
  3. June 18 (2 pm to 3 pm) Join the artist for music and fun at the Washington’s Headquarters Museum auditorium at 30 Washington Place, Morristown.

The exhibitions and programming are made possible by a grant from Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Cross Estate Mansion: Main Entrance. Photo © 2022 Xiomaro.com

George Washington’s Encampment in New Jersey Gets Closer Look in Photography Exhibition

George Washington’s Revolutionary War encampment in New Jersey is the subject of a fine art photography exhibition and companion programs. The images were created by Xiomaro, a nationally-exhibited artist, under a commission from the U.S. National Park Service. The exhibition and programming are funded, in part, through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State (a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts). The free exhibition – on display from June 6 to July 31, 2021 – will be on view at the nation’s first national historical park, which was established in 1933 in Morristown to preserve the site of Washington’s headquarters and his troop’s winter encampment of 1779-80. The large photographs are mounted against the windows of the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center, Tempe Wick Road, Morristown, for viewing outdoors in a socially-distanced setting. Videos of the artist’s work with the National Parks and his smartphone photography workshop will also be broadcast.

Over 1,000 log cabins, like the replica pictured above, housed George Washington’s troops at Jockey Hollow during the American Revolutionary War. | © 2021 Xiomaro.com All Rights Reserved.

Arts programming has been severely curtailed by the pandemic. Through a partnership with Morris Arts, the park was furnished with a grant to create a unique Virtual Artist-in-Residence relationship with Xiomaro (pronounced “SEE-oh-MAH-ro”), a nationally exhibited artist. Fine art photographs mounted against the windows of the park’s Jockey Hollow Visitor Center can be viewed from outdoors in a socially-distanced setting. Xiomaro’s illustrated talk and photography workshop will be presented by video.

The free exhibition is on display June 6 to July 31, 2021 at New Jersey’s Morristown National Historical Park.

The exhibition features selections from the first contemporary collection of photographs to artistically document the key features of Jockey Hollow, which were created by Xiomaro (pronounced “SEE-oh-MAH-ro”), under a commission from the National Park Service. The images show the dwellings of Henry Wick (owner of Jockey Hollow), George Washington, his officers, and his troops. By placing these images side-by-side, Xiomaro presents a closer look and context that transcends a physical visit to each location in real time. The viewer is left with a greater appreciation for the vast differences in how these iconic figures of the American Revolutionary War endured the harsh winter of 1779-1780.

Xiomaro, a nationally exhibited artist and Morristown National Historical Park’s first Virtual Artist-in-Residence.
Portrait of Xiomaro by Janette Pellegrini.

“Xiomaro’s understanding of history through the lens makes him an outstanding ambassador for our continued efforts to reach all types of learners from more than one perspective,” said Jude M. Pfister, Chief of Cultural Resources. His work and aesthetic philosophy was the subject of “Unseen Beauty,” a short documentary film produced by the National Park Service and its partners.

Funding for Xiomaro’s Virtual Artist-in-Residence has been made possible, in part, by Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Morris Arts facilitates such partnerships to reach an audience of nearly 325,000 residents with hundreds of artistic and educational activities, events, and programs. Additional funding was provided by the Morristown National Historical Park. 

For more information visit the artist’s website for details and a free souvenir print from the exhibition:  http://www.xiomaro.com or contact Morristown National Historical Park at (862) 400-5972.