SPRINGFIELD – Photography students at Springfield Technical Community College are telling the story of grief through images on display at an exhibition at the Carberry Fine Arts Gallery.
Running Jan. 20 through Feb. 6, the exhibition offers the community a space to witness, honor and reflect on the deeply personal yet universally shared experience of grieving. “Faces of Grief” is a collaborative photography exhibition presented by STCC, Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice, and The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens.
STCC invites the public to attend a reception on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the gallery, located on the STCC campus.
“Faces of Grief” invites viewers into the intimate world of loss and remembrance. Under the guidance of Professor Sondra Peron, STCC darkroom photography students captured portraits of grieving individuals holding, wearing or displaying objects that connect them to loved ones who have passed away. The students used analog, or film, photography as well as digital to capture 26 portraits of The Garden members and STCC community members. Each portrait was developed as a gelatin silver print and gifted to the participant following the exhibition.
“Grief is often a silent experience,” said Shelly Bathe Lenn, Bereavement Coordinator at Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice. “This project offers a powerful way to honor those who have died and to open up conversations that help us feel less alone.”
Lenn, who has led grief support groups across Western Massachusetts since 2002, uses creative rituals and dialogue to help individuals navigate the complexities of mourning. Her work with The Garden and Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice continues to foster healing spaces for children, teens, and adults.
For Peron, the exhibition represents both an artistic and human opportunity. “This exhibit invites the public to reflect on a subject that is difficult but universal,” Peron said. “I hope visitors leave feeling a deeper sense of compassion, for others and for themselves.”
Mary Lou Vredenburg, Dean of Liberal and Professional Studies at STCC, said the project also plays an important role in student learning.
“Our photography students are not just developing technical skills,” Vredenburg said. “They are learning how to approach people with empathy, how to listen and how to translate emotion into visual storytelling. Experiences like this prepare them to become thoughtful artists and compassionate professionals.”
Julia Salazar, a fine arts major at STCC, recalled the day she took photos. “It was a very emotional day,” Salazar said. “One man had lost his young son. And then there was a boy who lost his biological dad. I felt very emotional taking their photos.”
Photography student Tina Scott said the child who lost his father wore his dad’s boxing robe. “That really touched me,” Scott said. “We had people from all walks of life and with all different types of losses. It was an honor to be able to do this for them.”
STCC Business Professor Diane Sabato participated in the photo shoot as a subject.
“I chose to participate because I thought it would be cathartic as well as a good way to honor and recognize my husband,” Sabato said. “It was really emotional, but the students were very thoughtful as they took the photos. They made it a moving and memorable experience for me.”
The Faces of Grief exhibit aims to destigmatize grief and transform discomfort into connection. All are welcome to attend the reception and view the portraits that reflect love, memory and resilience. ■