Penobscot Marine Museum presents “Kosti Ruohomaa: The Maine Assignments,” an exhibit showcasing photographer Kosti Ruohomaa’s works featuring Maine scenes. Beginning Nov. 25, the exhibit will be on display at Freeport Antiques and Heirlooms Showcase at 31 Main Street in Freeport. Admission is free.
Kosti Ruohomaa was a prominent mid-20th century photojournalist who grew up in Rockland. He was a first-generation Finnish-American immigrant and a gifted artist who died young.
Though his professional work spanned just over two decades, he documented a critical time in American culture by photographing around the World War II years. During his career, his photos found their way into some of the era’s more visible publications, notably Life, Look, and National Geographic.
While many of Ruohomaa’s most iconic images stand on their own, he approached his assignments with a photo essay in mind.
The affinity he felt with people and places shows in his photographs, and it helped him capture the varied folkways of an America that was changing rapidly, particularly the fading world of rural old New England.
With a focus on his Maine-based photographic assignments, Kosti Ruohomaa: The Maine Assignments explores the ways that Mainers lived, celebrated, made their livings, recreated, and communicated.
While many of Ruohomaa’s most iconic images stand on their own, he approached his assignments with a photo essay in mind—telling the story through a series of photographs. This exhibit embraces that approach and presents his assignments through the eye of a magazine editor. It allows a deeper look at Ruohomaa’s work and technique and helps viewers gain more insight into the man and his photographs.
“Kosti Ruohomaa: The Maine Assignments” has been funded in part by generous support from lead sponsor L.L Bean and by Camden National Wealth Management and Allen Insurance and Financial.
Penobscot Marine Museum brings Maine’s maritime history to life on a campus of beautiful historic buildings in the charming seacoast village of Searsport, Maine. Exhibits throughout the campus tell unique stories of ship captains and their families, the industries of Penobscot Bay, global maritime trade, and today’s fisheries.
In addition to exhibits, Penobscot Marine Museum has over 300,000 historic photographs, an extensive collection of maritime artifacts and archives, and a maritime history research library. Visit penobscotmarinemuseum.org to learn more.
