West Hartford Photographer’s ‘We The People’ on Exhibit and in Published Book
Audio By Carbonatix
An image from "We the People" by Virginia Kemp shows a group at the Quaker Diner. Courtesy of Virginia Kemp
An exhibit by local artist Virginia Kemp will be on exhibit beginning Oct. 9 at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society.
Photographer Ginny Kemp with ‘We the People,’ on exhibit at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society and for sale at local bookstores. Courtesy photo
By Ronni Newton
West Hartford photographer Ginny Kemp started a project to document the town at a point in history, but “We the People” has turned into much more, and the culmination of her work will be available for the public to experience at an exhibit that opens at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, as well as in a published book.
“Over the last few years, I’ve become more and more interested in documentary photography, and with the upcoming 250th Anniversary of the U.S., I had the perfect excuse to capture West Hartford at this moment in time,” Kemp told We-Ha.com. “The project gave me a chance to meet an incredible mix of people, photograph them, and hear their stories and perspectives on life.
Honestly, it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
‘We the People’ by Ginny Kemp is on exhibit at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society and for sale at local bookstores. Courtesy photo
“We the People” – the words that open the Declaration of Independence – reflects the theme of Kemp’s documentary portraits. In the introduction to the book, she wrote: “Past, present, and future – the real strength of this country is in the people who live in our neighborhoods, towns, and cities. From East to West, North to South, and everywhere in between. Those who take on the essential, sometimes invisible, work that keeps our communities going and helps them thrive. They teach, create, protect, care, and inspire – one day and one moment at a time.”
The exhibit serves as a modern-day snapshot of West Hartford on the eve of the country’s 250th anniversary, but it goes beyond the town’s borders and beyond the photographs themselves as Kemp asked the deeper questions about the people she photographed – their passions and their challenges.
‘We the People’ by Ginny Kemp is on exhibit at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society and for sale at local bookstores. Courtesy photo
“The images captured through Kemp’s lens embody the traits that have built and sustained the ‘Democratic Experiment:’ courage, creativity, perseverance, compassion – qualities that transcend time and culture,” the Noah Webster House announcement of the exhibit states. “Through powerful photographs and interviews, the exhibit explores how individuals make a difference – not through dramatic or high-profile acts, but, in most cases, through small and steady commitments.”
Those profiled in the exhibit and book are going about their lives, showing up every day and doing their part to support each other and the greater good.
“Some of the people featured in the exhibit and book I’d known for awhile, but I also had a gut feeling that my paths would cross with others who would make great additions to the project. So I pushed myself to stay open to possibilities,” Kemp said. “That led to meeting people like Kedar Khatiwada, who helped launch the Nepalese Association of Connecticut. I’m not sure our paths would have ever crossed if it weren’t for the ‘We the People’ project.”
‘We the People’ by Ginny Kemp is on exhibit at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society and for sale at local bookstores. Courtesy photo
Kemp was born in Michigan, and grew up hearing her grandparents’ stories and became fascinated with old photographs and letters she found at the family farm. Her first career was in clinical social work, before a “few unexpected turns” led her to photography – where she communes to listen, question, build trust, and establish connection.
While some of the people Kemp photographed were strangers at first, they are now familiar faces. “I love popping into places like Good Cause Gifts where Dan can help me pick out something thoughtful. When we eat at Coracora, I know that our food will be made by Macarena, who learned from her mom. When I walk Sammy in Elizabeth Park, I can join Thom and the other dog walkers, and call them by name,” she wrote in the introduction.
The public is invited to attend the opening reception of the exhibit at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, 227 South Main Street, West Hartford, on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 5-7 p.m. The exhibit will remain open at the museum through Dec. 31, 2025.
The book is also for sale at the museum’s gift shop, as well as Good Cause Gifts and River Bend Books in West Hartford.
‘We the People’ by Ginny Kemp is on exhibit at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society and for sale at local bookstores. Courtesy photo
‘We the People’ by Ginny Kemp is on exhibit at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society and for sale at local bookstores. Courtesy photo
‘We the People’ by Ginny Kemp is on exhibit at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society and for sale at local bookstores. Courtesy photo
Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.
