On November 11, the walls of Chroma Fine Art Gallery in Katonah will celebrate the history of an organization that has spent a half-century documenting life in our area. The Katonah gallery will host a special exhibition featuring photography by more than 40 members of The Ground Glass, a Westchester- and Fairfield-based association of fine art photographers marking its 50th anniversary. The show is curated by Chroma’s owner, Rita Baunok, herself a longtime member.
More than a camera club
For Baunok, the show is more than a professional project; it’s deeply personal. “I learned a lot about being a photographer from this group,” she explains. Banouk joined The Ground Glass shortly after she began studying photography at the International Center of Photography (ICP) 18 years ago. Now, with an associate’s, bachelor’s and an MFA in photography, Baunok says what she’s learned from the members of The Ground Glass shaped her as a photographer. “When you are taking a class,” Baunok explains, “you learn the technical skills and receive feedback. But this group taught me how to exhibit, prepare my work for an exhibition, frame my work, hang things and more.”
Founded in 1975 by Renata Rainer, The Ground Glass has always been more than a camera club. Its monthly gatherings alternate between guest speakers and member salons, where members present their work for critique. The feedback ranges from questions about composition to conceptual impact. “The comments are meaningful,” says member Dennis Dilmaghani, who joined six years ago. “They make you think differently about how you look at photographs and how you compose them. I’ve greatly benefitted from seeing and hearing the comments directed towards salon participants; every review is so different.”
Over the years, these professional colleagues have developed strong bonds. “We are not just members; we’ve become friends,” says Baunok. “There are at least 10 people from The Ground Glass who are my longtime friends, and we help each other a lot.”
The group’s high standards have helped it stand apart. Many members are practicing professionals, teachers, or artists with formal training, and the work reflects that seriousness. “This is fine art photography,” Baunok explains. “The quality of the work in this group is very high.” Many are also members of the prestigious Soho Photo Gallery, New York City’s longest-operating member-run photography gallery, which was founded in 1971 by a group of New York Times photographers.
Sierra Range by Dennis Dilmaghani.
A display of exceptional work
That quality and breadth of voices is what Baunok wanted to showcase when she offered to host the anniversary exhibition at Chroma. “There isn’t a specific theme to this exhibit, but my shows always tell a story,” she says. “I want to present the strongest work from each member, and themes limit people. But the show will tell a story.”
With at least one piece on the wall from each member, the show promises a range of scale and style. There will be delicate three-inch black-and-white prints hung alongside large-scale landscapes; traditional darkroom work near digital prints; images printed on paper, canvas, even aluminum; and more.
The mix reflects what The Ground Glass has always embraced: diversity of approach anchored by a shared dedication to the craft. “The beauty is really in the variety,” says Dilmaghani. “You’ll see so many different types of photography, but the level is consistently strong.”
Behind the scenes
For Baunok, assembling the show, which she began doing in July, has been a joy and a challenge. Coordinating the work of more than 40 artists meant tough curatorial choices. “As a big group, it’s difficult to get into a gallery,” Baunok explains. “Nobody wants to deal with that many people. So I decided to host the show because I wanted to see everyone’s work in a nice gallery setting. I wanted this to be a juried show that features our members’ best work, which wasn’t always easy.”
For this show, Baunok changed her parameters. For example, while she would not normally hang a photograph of flowers, when one member came into the gallery to share her portfolio, Baunok selected her flower photograph because that was her best piece. “I am also thinking about what people would love to see in their family room or living room,” she explains. And because some group members have exhibited their work for 40 or 50 years, Baunok faced the difficult challenge of choosing between one exceptional photograph versus another. “We’re looking forward to this show,” she says. “It’s going to be fantastic.”
The Ground Glass 50th Anniversary Exhibition opens at Chroma Fine Art Gallery in Katonah on November 11, and the opening reception will be held on November 13, 3-7 p.m.
This partner content was published in the November/December 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
The editorial staff at Connect To magazine.
