Lower Merion Photographer Highlighted For Essential Worker Photo

LOWER MERION, PA — An art museum in Bucks County is featuring 25 photos that capture the coronavirus pandemic, political protests, and essential workers that helped define 2020 as an unforgettable year. Among the featured artists is a Lower Merion-based photographer.

On display at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown is the Essential Work 2020: A Community Portrait exhibit, a juried photography showing, through July 11.

Zimra Chorney, a professional photographer from Lower Merion, saw an ad in the Philadelphia Inquirer for the competition.

Her photo of David Scott, an essential worker for Lower Merion Township's Refuse and Trash Collection, hangs on the walls of the museum exhibit. For several weeks, she waited outside for him at 6 a.m. to take his picture.

"I was inspired to take his photo because this is an every day activity that is essential," Chorney said.

Chorney and 24 other photographers were awarded a 1-year membership to the museum.

Included in the exhibit is a photo showing activists gathering at the steps of the Bucks County Courthouse following the death of George Floyd, captured by Doylestown photographer Riley Joslin. In Philadelphia, Shawn Reid's photo of two people consoling each other during a protest in support of homeless housing took home first prize.

The three jurors were Laura Turner Igoe, the museum's American art curator; Ruben Christie, former Vice President for the African American Museum of Bucks County; and Marlene Pray, community organizer and director of the Planned Parenthood's Rainbow Room.

Photo editors from the Philadelphia Inquirer selected their top three images from the exhibit.

Story by Peter Blanchard