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Artist Talk: Is That Another Ghost by Vanessa R. Thompson

Join lens based artist, Vanessa R thompson for an in-person discussion about her exhibition, "Is that another Ghost"


Saturday, July 20 | 10:30 AM

Salem Arts Association

159 Derby Street

Salem, MA 01970

There will be fresh donuts and coffee.

A photographic series of multi exposure self-portraits is an exploration of the haunted memories of eating disorders, sexual harassment, death and the shadows of family alcoholism, depression and anxiety all stirred back up by the hormonal whirlwind of aging.

There is no predetermined map to my photographs, just my camera, a pile of props, my body, and sheets of film ready for my thoughts to spill out on to light-stained, ground up bones. It is not until I am standing in my darkroom that I can begin translating the story the film has to tell me.

About the Artist 
Vanessa R. Thompson is a lens bases artist. She never listened when her mother she told her to stop playing with her food. She grew up in the suburbs of Connecticut on a steady diet of 1980s horror films and feminism, seasoned with a dash of disordered eating and splash of punk. Now working out of Salem, MA, she uses items of consumable comfort; food, ephemera, and toys, in her analog photographs that range from abstraction to absurd.

Thompson received an MFA at the Lesley University of Boston, MA, where she studied under Carrie Moyer and Julia Scher. Her work has been shown at Governs Island art fair in NYC, in bait/switch magazine. She is member of Salem art association and Cambridge art association. She uses a collection of vintage film cameras in her home studio populated by an army of creepy dolls, and cranky black cat. 

There will be fresh donuts and coffee.


Exhibit: Written Word

  • Saturday, June 29, 2024
  • 12:00 PM
  • Saturday, July 27, 2024
  • 6:00 PM
  • Salem Arts Association, 159 Derby Street, Salem MA

Think of a word, any word.  Or think of many, many words.  Write it out, write it down, and create a piece in any medium around what you’ve written.  We invite our member artists to use your written word as your artistic muse for this exhibition.  Your submissions should be accompanied by your writing, either on paper (up to, but no larger than letter size (8.5x11)), or by your writing having been visibly incorporated into your artwork.


  • Reception: Friday, June 28, 2024, 6:00-8:00 PM
  • Exhibition Dates: June 29 – July 27, 2024


Open Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

    Salem Arts Association Galleries, 159 Derby Street, Salem MA 01970

    Contact gallery@salemarts.org with questions.

    Salem Arts Association
    159 Derby Street 
    Salem, MA 01970  
    Phone: 978-745-4850 
    Email: info@SalemArts.org


    Hours 
    Weekends 12-6pm

    Closed: Christmas, Thanksgiving
    and New Years Day 
    Parking: on street when available

                  

    © 2007 - 2024,  Salem Arts Association is a 501(c)(3 )non-profit organization

    159 Derby Street, Salem MA 01970