Jeff Wilkins, son of photographer Bruce Wilkins, will speak about the photography and the Lachat property at the Farm Art exhibit at the Weston Public Library this weekend.
The talk, sponsored by the Friends of Lachat (as is the art exhibit) will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29, in the Community Room at the library.
Mr. Wilkins spent a lot of time at the Lachat farm with his family, helping his uncle Leon Lachat with various projects, such as creating a slalom course for skiing, and going on walks through the woods.
His father, Bruce, who was a commercial artist, took his camera with him on all the outings and his photographs have become a visual narrative of the property during the 1960s and 1970s.
A young Jeff is pictured in numerous photographs as he was a ready and able subject. Sometimes Bruce Wilkins is in the photographs as well, having handed off the camera to his in-laws. (Bruce’s wife, Ginny, was the sister of Leon Lachat’s first wife, Laurie.)
The exhibit Farm Art, which is on display at the library through February, features photographs and paintings depicting scenes from farm life — family gatherings, animals, flowing water, skiing, the Lachat meadow, pears, eggs, a pantry full of jars, barns in all seasons, winter scenics from Lachat woods and more.
While the majority of the art in the show are photographs by Bruce Wilkins, there is a mix of newly created paintings and photographs as well as paintings created in the 50s, 60s and 70s by local artists.
