In Search of Norumbega at the NHAA

Portsmouth, NH– In Search of Norumbega, photographer David Olken presents a striking visual journey through the landscapes of the Gulf of Maine and Atlantic Canada. His work captures the elusive beauty of these regions, reflecting both a personal search for home and the fleeting yet profound moments that define a place. Decades after his early career as a newspaper photographer, Olken rekindled his passion, beginning with familiar locations in southern Maine and New Hampshire. His search expanded into the Canadian Maritimes, echoing the 16th-century European quest for Norumbega, a mythical city of riches. “Unlike those explorers, I did discover Norumbega,” Olken states. “I have the pictures to prove it.” Influenced by André Kertész and Richard Avedon, his images are carefully composed, single-exposure captures processed with traditional darkroom techniques to retain the depth and texture of analog film. More than documentation, Olken’s work is a meditation on identity and belonging. As a second-generation Jewish American, he longed for a deep-rooted connection to place. Over time, his photography evolved into a bridge between past and present, memory and experience, culminating in a profound bond with the landscapes of the Northeast North America. “Like the earliest explorers, I sought something mythical,” Olken reflects. “But instead of material wealth, I found peace and contentment in a new home.” In Search of Norumbega will be on view at Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801, from April 3rd – 27th. The opening reception will take place on Friday, April 4, from 5-8 pm. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 am to 5 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm.