Reflections of My Eye: Dick Van Nostrand

All photos in the exhibit as well as the memoir are for sale. A portion of the sales from the exhibit will go towards The Dick Van Nostrand Scholarship Fund.

Over the years, Dick Van Nostrand’s photographs have graced the pages of the “Bay City Times” and many other publications throughout the world. His interest in photography began when he was a teenager and picked up his dad’s 35-millimeter camera, beginning his journey into photography that included a 35-year career as photographer for the “Bay City Times.”

Van Nostrand’s connection to the mid-Michigan community is deeply ingrained, and photographers of our region have been inspired by his skills and work ethic. The images he shot of the fire that destroyed the Wenonah Hotel in 1977 garnered him a Pulitzer Prize nomination in 1978. This exhibit includes those photographs, as well as other images of historic moments from the arenas of politics, sports, day-to-day life in Michigan, and incidents such as the 1990 fiery explosion of the freighter Jupiter as it burned out of control on the west side of the Saginaw River in Bay City.

From a curatorial standpoint, this exhibit is interesting as it is displayed using several documentary styled grids that are in keeping with the photojournalistic theme of the content. Viewers can study over 800 photographs in the gallery, either hanging or arranged in containers that they can flip through. Every genre is covered, including photographs that Van Nostrand took as an artist, as well as in his role as a newspaper photographer. This exhibit will be of interest to artists, photographers, historians, and community members alike.

The “Reflections of My Eye” exhibit is made possible by Van Nostrand’s wife, Jan Van Nostrand, and his children David Van Nostrand and Amy Klovski. A book containing Dick Van Nostrand’s memoir will be available for purchase. It includes many images from his career, as well as the story of his life. The book was compiled by his daughter, Amy Klovski, a graphic artist.

Public reception will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2021

The exhibit will be on display November 27, 2021 – January 8, 2022.