Decisive Moment
Photography by artist Evan Wolarsky
On view: Feb 14 – Mar 14
Opening: Sat, Feb 14 | 3-5pm
Exhibition Statement:
Evan Wolarsky was a devoted street photographer, roaming the streets of New York, the Princeton campus, and destinations around the world in pursuit of what Henri Cartier-Bresson famously called the “decisive moment”, that fleeting instant when form, emotion, and meaning align. Working primarily in black and white, Wolarsky captured scenes of everyday life with sensitivity, patience, and a keen eye for human presence.
Every photograph in this exhibition was printed by Wolarsky himself. From 1976 to 1993, he maintained an extensive darkroom in his Pennington home, mastering traditional photographic printing techniques. Later, he transitioned seamlessly into digital printing, developing deep expertise in Photoshop and a nuanced understanding of papers, inks, and printers. His commitment to craft remained constant across technologies, with the final print always central to his practice.
Wolarsky’s passion for photography began at the age of nine, when his father gifted him a Leica camera, a moment that sparked a lifelong artistic pursuit far beyond hobby. Alongside his creative work, Wolarsky led a distinguished career in medicine, earning degrees from Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and Wharton, completing surgical training at Columbia-Presbyterian, serving in the U.S. Navy, and later becoming the first medical director of Hunterdon Medical Center before retiring in 1999.
In addition to being a dedicated physician, Wolarsky was a gifted pianist, marathon runner, and active member of the artistic community. His photographs have been exhibited at Soho Photo Gallery in New York City, Ellarslie at the Trenton City Museum, and in national online exhibitions, and are held in private collections throughout the Princeton area.
Photographs in this exhibition are available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Arts Council of Princeton.
