The Roebling Museum will present another installment of its monthly “Saturday Lecture Series” when residents are encouraged to attend a discussion and book singing with photographer and author Barbara G. Mensch on May 11 at 1 p.m.
Mensch is a contemporary photographer whose work contains subject matters dealing with the curiosity and stamina of a detective. Her images have been the subject of numerous articles in multiple renowned publications.
The gathering will coincide with her book, “In the Shadow of Genius: The Brooklyn Bridge and its Creators,” which is described as “a photographer’s quest to understand the brilliant minds and remarkable lives of those who built the Brooklyn Bridge.”
Museum officials said that Mencsh’s photographs provide a powerful first-person narrative to cast a unique light on the concept of genius. Her book aims to take the reader on a personal journey by recalling her experiences living alongside the Brooklyn Bridge for more than 30 years, and then by tracing her own curious path to understanding the genius of John, Washington and Emily Roebling.
Many of Mensch’s photographs were inspired by her visits to the Roebling Archives housed at Rutgers University, where she pieced together, through notebooks, diaries, letters and drawings, the seminal locations and events that affected their lives, according to museum officials. The project fuses the record of history with contemporary imagery.
Mensch has published two books on New York’s legendary Fulton Market (now demolished), which she photographed. Mensch has also had numerous exhibitions of her photographic work.
Her images are represented in some of New York City’s most prestigious galleries and her work is included in important collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of the City of New York, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, Fundacion Televisa of Mexico City, the Bibliotheque Nationale, Elton John and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.
Mensch is also collaborating with producer Spike Jones Jr. on a miniseries for television based on her book.
The Roebling Museum is located at 100 Second Ave. in Roebling.
Ample parking is available in the Museum lot off Hornberger Avenue, adjacent to the Roebling River Line parking area. The River Line has a Roebling stop behind the museum. Visitors are encouraged not to park on 2nd Avenue, on the residential side of the building.
Admission for the event is $7 general; $6 museum members.
For more info on this event and other upcoming Roebling Museum programs, events, group tours, facility rentals and volunteer opportunities, call the museum at 609-499-7200 or visit its website at www.roeblingmuseum.org.
