on display March 2023
closing reception: Friday, March 31, 5-8pm
Born on Long Island and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Joseph Ackerman’s love of imagery began at age 10 when he attended afterschool art classes at William H. Ray Elementary School and a neighborhood community center. His exploration of a variety of media continued through high school and into college where he settled on photography as his means of expression. At Hofstra University, in a federal work-study program, Joe worked with Public Relations in Photographic Services.
In 1977, Joe quickly accepted an opportunity to enter an 18-week training program in New York City in broadcast journalism funded by The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA). College became a memory. This experience began his 35 year career in broadcast journalism, bringing him eventually to Buffalo, NY.
During his career, he witnessed the evolution of the industry from film to video to digital broadcasting. While covering the news, he was not deterred from composing images with meaning and impact. He was recognized for this with a United Press International (UPI) award. Throughout, he continued to pursue and expand his love of the still image as photography was his primary interest.
In retirement, away from the city’s pace and living in the country, Joe enjoys immersing himself in nature, photographing whatever moves him. Additionally, he has begun to explore Lichtenburg Fractals, a high voltage process that burns branching patterns into wood, applying this process to sculptures he has created. One of these sculptures received the Buffalo Society of Artists (BSA) People’s Choice Award when it was on view in a BSA Members Exhibition.
