This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Work of Self-Taught Photographer on Display at Mary C. Daly Gallery

The Mary C. Daly RSM Art Gallery at Mercy by the Sea presents Beauty and the Sea–An Exploration of the Common, an exhibit of photographs by Cindy Fiano, through March 14 with an opening reception on Sunday, Jan. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. Fiano is a self-taught photographer, inspired by serene seascapes and graceful birds on beaches and in marshes. It wasn’t until the last of her three children left for college that she started to explore photography with the small digital camera that her daughter left behind. At that time, she was working on her master’s of transformative leadership and spirituality at Hartford Seminary. She says that as her understanding of the divine deepened, her photos became more spiritual in nature.

For Fiano, her biggest inspiration has been to capture and share the beauty in the commonplace—those things that often get overlooked. It’s the small details, often overshadowed by daily activity, that hold the key to a deeper connection to nature and joy. Fiano hopes viewers hear the sound of the waves in the distance, smell the salty air, feel the coarse sand beneath their feet and see the wonderful gifts the sea has to offer.

After almost 50 years of summering in Old Saybrook, Fiano and her husband, Mike, had the good fortune of making their year-round home close by.

“It is a blessing to spend countless hours walking the beach, breathing the salt air, listening to the seagull calls, hearing the roar of the waves, and gathering the many treasures left behind after each high tide,” Fiano says. Join us on Sunday, January 14, from 2-4 p.m. for an opening reception for this exhibit.

Mercy by the Sea supports art as the creative expression of the human spirit. The Mary C. Daly RSM Gallery exhibits established and emerging local and regional painters, sculptors, photographers and mixed media artists whose artwork express a powerful connection to creation in all its forms and engages conversation, learning, spirituality and growth. The gallery is fully accessible and conveniently located just inside the main. All are welcome to explore the gallery and artwork, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; typically, the exhibits change every two to three months.