Third Age Center Anniversary Celebration Includes Client Photography Exhibition

The SUNY Plattsburgh Third Age Adult Day Center will kick off its 25th anniversary celebration Friday, April 10 with an exhibit of works by photographer David Learned at 30City beginning with a reception there at 5 p.m.

The Third Age Adult Day Center is an adult social day program that offers seniors with memory impairment, loneliness or frailty and their families an alternative to nursing-home placement or home-care services. It helps families that want their loved ones to remain at home as long as possible. 

Learned, a client at the center, retired about eight years ago after working in human services for more than 40 years, most recently as a credentialed counselor. He began taking black and white photos at an early age with a box camera. Color photos were rare and expensive at the time, and although he was trained in art, he never looked at photography as art. But that was before the advent of digital camera, home computers and high-quality photo printers.

After acquiring his first digital camera, Learned saw the potential for taking and producing an array of photos without “wasting” film, since memory cards were reusable. He showed some prints to friends, many of whom said he should sell his works.

Since then, Learned has produced numerous images, many of which hang in private homes. Although he calls it a hobby, he said he is happy that people have expressed an interest in his work.

Learned’s work will be on display through April.