Nature Through the Lens: Barbara Arnstein Photography Exhibit Now on Display at Ellicottville Memorial Library
Nature Through the Lens: Barbara Arnstein Photography Exhibit Now on Display at Ellicottville Memorial Library
Local photographer captures overlooked moments of natural beauty in exhibit running through June 30, 2026
Visitors to the Ellicottville Memorial Library are being treated to more than just great books this season. They’re also being welcomed by a beautiful photography exhibit showcasing the work of local photographer Barbara Arnstein.
The exhibit features over a dozen images capturing moments of natural beauty that often go unnoticed in everyday life. From delicate butterflies and fleeting cherry blossoms to quiet pond reflections and hidden waterfalls, Arnstein’s work invites viewers to slow down and truly see the world around them.
“In every picture I take, I try to capture natural beauty that people usually don't get to see, or that they often overlook,” Arnstein said. “Butterflies never stay still for very long and so can be best appreciated in photos, and flowers like cherry blossoms are only at their peak for such a brief moment.”
Several of the photographs were taken at Glen Park in Williamsville, including dappled afternoon shadows beside a pond, a pink rose adorned with sparkling raindrops, and a charming scene of ducklings resting together, while one energetic duckling behind them enthusiastically flaps its tiny wings as if attempting to fly. Another image shows water cascading through a rocky area that resembles a painting, while a separate photo captures an unusual waterfall tucked away from heavy foot traffic.
This is Arnstein’s second exhibit at the Ellicottville Memorial Library, and she says the setting offers a wonderful opportunity for people to encounter art in a relaxed, welcoming environment. The exhibit will remain on display through June 30, 2026.
In addition to the library show, one of Arnstein’s photographs will be featured in an upcoming exhibition titled “Connections” at the Peg Bothner Gallery in Olean, running from February 7th through March 7th. Each image in that exhibit reflects the themes of kinship, community, love, and belonging. Arnstein’s selected image captures the final curtain call of the musical Lumberjacks in Love, performed at the Carol Mongerson Theater in Springville last fall, showing six actors holding hands as they raise their arms to acknowledge the audience’s applause.
Arnstein has been an active participant in the regional arts scene for several years, regularly displaying her work during Springville’s annual Art Crawl and Petit Noel Show & Sale at Art’s Café. Her photographs have also appeared in exhibitions at the Olmsted Gallery, including Between the Natural and Supernatural - where her image of a vine-covered hedge doorway suggested a portal into another world - and The Face of Nature, featuring a stream illuminated by golden light and a face formed accidentally by shadow and stone.
For those who want to explore more of her photography, Arnstein shares additional images on Facebook under “Barbara Jones (Barbara Arnstein).”
Community members are encouraged to stop by the Ellicottville Memorial Library to view the exhibit, browse the shelves, check out a book, and enjoy one of the village’s most welcoming community spaces. The library is located at 6499 Maples Road. More information about library hours and programming can be found at ellicottvillelibrary.org.
