“Baseball Faces” contains images that document the true heroes of baseball ─ the fans. Each of the three photographers included in the exhibit has a distinctly unique approach to the subject matter. The photographs represent images taken of the North American Minor Leagues, baseball in Latin America and of the Negro Leagues.

Bill Chapman has been exhibiting at Panopticon since 1973. He has traveled to over 60 ballparks and photographed hundreds of games all across America. His interest is not in the players but the people that attend the games. Whether people go for the pure escapism of watching a sport or the making of a deeper connection to the history and culture of the game, Chapman tries to engage in a dialogue with his subjects culminating in portraits. Having exhibited extensively in galleries over the years, his photographs can also be seen in books such as, “Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball” by Howard Bryant and “Good Wood: A History of Rickwood Field” by Ben Cook. His photographs have also appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Baseball America and Boston Baseball magazine. Kiku Adatto, Harvard University Humanities Scholar and author of “Picture Perfect” has written, “Turning his eyes from the field to the stands, Bill Chapman's photographs capture the heart, soul, quirks and creativity of baseball fans. With his extraordinary sense of color and telling detail, his photographs are a revelation. This is a must see exhibit.”

José Luis Villegas is a graduate of the University of San Francisco and has been a newspaper photojournalist for 26 years. Villegas has been working at the Sacramento Bee in Sacramento, California since 1992. In 1996, along with writer Marcos Bretón, co-authored and published as, "Away Games" by Simon & Schuster in 1999. Villegas was a contributing photographer in the photographic project “Americanos”, documenting Latino culture in the United States, published by Little Brown in 2000. “Far From Home” co-authored with writer Tim Wendel was published and released by the National Geographic in 2008. This fall, his solo exhibition, “The Latino Baseball Story” will open at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. He has also exhibited at museums and galleries around the country.

Dr. Ernest C. Withers is one of the most noted and celebrated African-American photographers in history. During his lifetime, he documented the events that transpired in his hometown of Memphis and other cities. His body of work included photographs of Civil Rights events, the musical scene in Memphis and the Negro Leagues. His images are etched on the national consciousness as vital and important documents of a critical period in American history. In the collection of many museums, his work has been published in “Pictures Tell the Story” Chrysler Museum of Art, 2000, “The Memphis Blues Again” Viking Studios, 2001 and “Negro League Baseball” Harry Abrams, 2005.

A selection of historic reproduction photographs from the Boston Public Library Print Department Archives will also be on display.

Panopticon Gallery of Photography is located inside The Hotel Commonwealth in
Kenmore Square, Boston. In business for almost 40 years, Panopticon Gallery is a
destination to those interested in fine photography. Our newest gallery space also brings the art of photography to hotel and restaurant guests passing through the gallery space. For more information and or for press photos, please contact Tony Decaneas at
Panopticon Gallery. panopticongallery@panopt.com 617-267-8929.

Press Release (PDF format)