Leann Shamash

Irma: A Century of Hats and Spirit

Irma was born in 1923. For 95 years she has savored all that life offers.  As she has aged she has outlived her husband, siblings and friends. Her memory is slipping from her. Despite this, she has worn her years well, dressing and behaving with a flair for the dramatic. Irma resides in an assisted living facility. There it is more challenging for her to express her love of beautiful clothing, make-up and glamorous accessories, including hats.

In this series of photographic images, Irma wears styles of hats from the past century. The hats symbolize the idea that beauty endures at all ages, and that age does not deprive an individual of vivid personality.

Irma is my mother, and this project has been deeply meaningful for both of us. Irma loves to pose and is very expressive for the camera. She treasures her portraits and shares them with anyone she encounters. As her daughter, it has given me meaningful time with her, time where we joyfully share a project together that will last for a lifetime.

Artist Bio

Leann Shamash, a Newton, Massachusetts based photographer, hopes to visually follow the words of Abraham Joshua Heschel, that all objects, however mundane or small, can cause wonder and radical amazement. Her subjects are varied, with the objective of finding the spark of life in the most mundane objects.  Leann’s work in the field of Jewish education has helped to lend a spiritual lens to her photography.  Her work has been shown at the Newton and Brewster Ladies’ Library, New England Biolabs, Zullo Gallery, Brickbottom Gallery, Bromfield Gallery, Lawrence Memorial Hospital the Indalo Gallery. She has participated in Newton Open Studios and her work has twice been featured in Art Bingo from the Art Connection.  Leann was interviewed by Newton Cable Television on her work “Seasonal Bouquets: Wild and Cultivated.”

http://www.leannshamashphotography.com

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