Unique Vintage

A few years ago I attended a concert at a small venue in Easthampton, Massachusetts. The performer was Lori McKenna and I highly recommend her to you.

She performed by herself; many songs from her CD Bittertown. It was a great concert and I felt blessed to be in attendance.

There was an intermission (Lori sang, I recall, for a few hours!). Walking away from where I sat I passed a young women with bright red hair, a recent graduate I would soon learn of Hampshire College.

People who know me well know I love red hair. I stopped and said to her "Oh my God. I love your hair." I handed my business card to her, which read Bruce Barone, Fine Art Photography.  "I would love to photograph you. If you are ever interested, please give me a call."

A few months passed. The phone rang. "Hello, Bruce," she said. "This is Melissa."

This all happened in late 2004. I had just moved into my loft in Eastworks. I had just opened my photography studio and art gallery (Studio 19)--both in the loft space.

Here is Melissa looking at photographic art by Helena Kvarnstrom. This was the first exhibition in the gallery.

Here is an ad for Helena's exhibition, which appeared in a number of publications (The website does not exist anymore.):

Here is a photo of all of Helena's photos hung in my space:

I published a catalog of the exhibition. The introduction was written by Katharine Tillman. A few of her photos would be featured in a later group exhibition, 19 at 19. The catalog:

One year later, I started to repaint the loft and here is what the gallery space looked like then:

BTW: There is an online store called

Unique Vintage;

I recommend it to you.

If you want events in your life documented or are looking for distinctive nature, portrait or wedding photography--photography with soul that inspires you

to live a more artful and beautiful life,

please contact me.