Come to the Mattapoisett Free Public Library during March 21 to April 14 and see the Let the River Run photography exhibit by Mattapoisett resident David Walega. The exhibit will feature approximately 20 photographs of the Mattapoisett River Valley, captured through a uniquely traditional photographic process. Walega documents the 11-mile journey of the Mattapoisett River on film, starting at its Northern source at Snipatuit Pond in Rochester and ending where its water flows into Mattapoisett Harbor and Buzzards Bay. The photographs capture the unique and fragile ecosystem of the river and its tributaries, while raising awareness for the importance of conservation of natural spaces.
The Mattapoisett River Valley contains 300 acres of wetlands and is a sanctuary for a wide variety of fish, amphibians and birds. Some of these animals are endangered and rely on this wildlife corridor for their survival. The herring, once so abundant and returning yearly to spawn, have been on a steady decline due to manmade obstacles. Further, the growing human population of the surrounding towns is exerting increasing pressure on the watershed. However, the abandoning of the local cranberry industry has begun to improve the natural flow of water, creating an ideal habitat for fish and wildlife, including species of box turtles, American eels, insects and migrating birds.
Walega is a designer, artist and established photojournalist who has travelled across the globe to document projects in locations such as Africa, El Salvador and Mexico. He has contributed photographs for Getty Images/Wire Images, publications and international aid organizations. Walega has a personal connection to the area as a native of Mattapoisett, growing up with a love for the natural and wild spaces of Buzzards Bay. With over 20 years of experience as a pinhole photographer, Walega creates a representation of the world that is uniquely surreal, serene and contemplative. “The results are a welcome escape from my work in photojournalism and documentary work.”