What if we could collect our memories and place them in a box to sift through on a rainy day? Photographer Ed Grossman has created a project based on childhood memories, where his back seat viewpoint reminds us of station wagon road trips when everything seemed interesting and worth exploring. Sunday Drive is currently on exhibition at the Griffin Museum through October 5th, as part of the Photography Atelier 20 Show.

Ed’s work has been selected for inclusion in the PhotoPlace Gallery’s Finding the Light and the Cape Cod Art Association’s Water juried exhibitions. This summer, his entry in the Cape Cod Art Association’s annual show, The National, was awarded First Place for photography. He has also contributed images to both The Online Photographer and Lenscratch blogs. Ed is represented by the Picture This Gallery in Sandwich, MA. Ed’s portfolio projects include: Sunday Drive, a nostalgic look at how his world view developed from the backseat of the family station wagon; Beaches Offseason, offering a glimpse of this popular summer destination after the vacationers have left, and Fading American Bookstore, which documents the downward spiral of a retail institution.

Sunday Drive

I grew up in a quiet little town. Tempted by the variety of things to do and places to see outside the city limits, my passion for discovery was born. With trips to faraway places beyond our means, Sunday drives with my parents expanded my horizons. Two dollars worth of gasoline would fuel hours of exploration.

Joining us on those rides was the family Polaroid camera. Time and time again, I marveled as layers of plastic, chemicals, and paper turned into keepsakes of the places we visited. Years later, mental images from my childhood are still bordered by the familiar Polaroid frame.

On those drives, I would excitedly call for my dad to stop when I saw something that captivated me. Similar locations still spark my curiosity and imagination today. Traveling to those places, photographing them, and creating contemporary editions of yesterday’s Polaroids connects my past and present.