Dance the Shore — Pandemic-Inspired Photographs

Award-winning Ossining photographers Michael Washburn and Michael Page Miller will present Dance the Shore, a powerful exhibition of abstract, pandemic-inspired photographs, at the Ossining Public Library in Ossining, NY, from July 1 through July 30. An artists’ reception will be held on Thursday, July 17, from 6 to 8 PM.

In early 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic escalated, Washburn and Miller found themselves isolated on a barrier island along the Gulf Coast of FL.  With travel back to New York posing serious health risks, the pair instead turned their attention—and their digital cameras—to the island’s windswept coastline. Their creative response to confinement led to a remarkable series of abstract images capturing the textures, patterns, and rhythms of nature.

Upon returning to New York, the photographers digitally enhanced their raw images, discovering in the process a fertile ground for experimentation. The resulting works are vibrant, emotionally resonant, and open to personal interpretation—hallmarks of strong abstract art.

The exhibition features 15 large-format prints by each artist and reflects a growing national trend in contemporary photography toward abstraction, intentional camera movement, and saturated color. None of the images in Dance the Shore were AI-generated.

The final works are hand-printed on Noori Hanji, a traditional Korean paper made from the inner bark of the dak tree.