Laura Ferraguto

The Peace of Wild Things

When I was five, my family moved to a home surrounded by woodlands. I remember this place as something out of a fairytale. An abundance of native plants and wildlife flourished there. Until my younger sister was old enough to join me, I explored the woods alone. I created an imaginary world, where each tree and patch of wildflowers became my friend. Although that world faded as I grew older, a reverence for the land was deeply instilled in me. As a true introvert, I’m guided by a need for solitude, but there can be a fine line between solitude and isolation. My need for quiet and private space can lead to disconnection and loneliness. I retreat to the natural world as a source of healing. Walking repeatedly near my home, I investigate small details in the landscape. Close observation provides a sense of hope and of belonging to something greater than myself. The image making process becomes an attempt to immerse myself in the peace and transcendence of these moments.

: Quietude

: Crabapple

: Snowfall I

: Shards

: Serviceberry

: Starlings

: Meadow

: Golden

: Departure

: River Ice

: Branching

: Deep Freeze

: Mute Swan

: December Blosson

: Witch Hazel

: Orchard

: Snowfall II

: Winter Hydrangea

: Pussy Willows

: Moonrise

About

Laura Ferraguto is a visual artist working in digital photography and alternative processes. Her work explores the natural environs of her native New England, and themes of solitude and reverence for the earth. Her images investigate details of the landscape that come from suspended time and close observation.

She holds a B.A. from Boston College in Studio Art, focused on painting. For over 25 years she has worked in sectors of the book industry, including trade publishing and copyright licensing. Ferraguto’s work has been featured in groups shows at the Griffin Museum of Photography (Winchester, MA); PhotoPlace Gallery (Middlebury, VT); Boston Nature Center; the Wellesley Free Library (Wellesley, MA); a public art installation at Fan Pier (Boston, MA); and has been
published by Mass Audubon.

Born and raised in Connecticut, she now lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.