Turning the Page: Mary Ellen Bartley Explores the Poetry of Books in ‘Insight Sunday’

Photographer Mary Ellen Bartley will speak about her inspirations, process and artistic evolution at The Church on Sunday, October 19, at noon, as part of its autumn program, “Insight Sunday.”

During the talk, Bartley will discuss her project “Morandi’s Books,” which began during her 2020 residency at Casa Morandi in Bologna. The series offers a contemplative view into the personal library of Giorgio Morandi, the 20th-century Italian painter known for his restrained and precise still life compositions. A six-week residency at The Church during the pandemic allowed Bartley to further develop the project, deepening her exploration of books as both sculptural forms and emotional vessels.

The event includes a presentation by Bartley followed by a Q&A session. Her work will also be on view in “Here & There — The First Churchennial,” The Church’s fall exhibition, which opens October 5 and is on view Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Known for her minimal, poetic photography, Bartley captures the tactile and formal qualities of printed books. Her images emphasize textures, edges and presence, often blurring the lines between photography and painting. Her work offers a quiet response to the noise of modern life and engages deeply with themes of memory, perception and storytelling.

A Sag Harbor resident, Bartley earned her BFA from SUNY Purchase and has participated in residencies at Casa Morandi in Bologna, the 7L Lagerfeld Library in Paris, The Watermill Center, the Queens Museum and The Church. Her work has been exhibited at institutions including the Queens Museum, the Walker Art Center, the Morgan Library and Museum, and in a solo show at Museo Morandi in Bologna.

Her photographs are held in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, MOMA Library special collections, The Morgan Library and Museum, the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna, among others.

Tickets for “Insight Sunday” with Mary Ellen Bartley are $10 for general admission. Admission is free for members, but RSVP is required. The Church is located at 48 Madison Street, Sag Harbor. For tickets and information, visit thechurchsagharbor.org.