The End of an Era: Past Identity/Future Vision exhibition brought the Willimantic community together to say good bye to the past and create a dialogue about the future.

End of an Era: Past Identity/Future Vision gave the Windham community a much-needed opportunity to mourn the loss of an important local icon, with large, poetic photographs that told the smokestack's story from its former place of prominence in Willimantic's skyline through the wrecking ball to the last pile of bricks.

The exhibition did not simply revisit an idealized version of Willimantic's past - but honored its present as well, with twenty-four additional photographs of the current urban landscape that called attention to Windham's present beauty as well as its needs. Most important, true to its name, the exhibition offered a vision for Willimantic's future in a simultaneous interactive event, the Willimantic Portrait Project.

During the exhibition, artist Harrison Judd created an impromptu photo studio within the gallery and offered free portraits to all visitors. This innovative approach provided direct interaction, a record of participation, and a living, photographic archive of the diverse individuals who represent the future of downtown. The Portrait Project re-defined traditional exhibition practice and captivated both local and extended communities, including visitors from many Connecticut towns, Boston, New York, former mill workers and visitors from as far away as Hungary and India. Over two hundred portraits were taken, approved and posted online at futurehistory.com

Well over 200 people attended the opening reception, which ran an hour and a half longer than planned. In spite of two other important local events planned for that evening, the exhibition had record attendance which included Windham's Mayor, State Representative, the President and Academic Vice President of Eastern Connecticut State University, downtown business owners, students, local and regional artists, young and old residents, former mill workers and out of town visitors.

Throughout the run of the exhibition there was unprecedented foot traffic. Visitors signed the guest book, providing a record of an average of 50 or more visitors per day in a gallery space that typically gets one or two visitors per day.

The positive impact of the Portrait Project will continue in a follow-up event called Everybody's at the Drive-In, when the portraits will be projected on the big screen of the local Drive-in Theater, bringing the community together again, and including an even wider audience in the celebration of Willimantic's identity, diversity and unique individuality.

Using the transformative power of iconic imagery, End of an Era overcame several obstacles. It addressed Willimantic's Town-Gown gap with academically relevant subject matter; united diverse social groups through universally meaningful content; generated record-breaking attendance at the opening reception and enthusiastic participation throughout the exhibition; created lasting connections through the inclusive experience of the Portrait Project; and gave the community a context in which to celebrate its past, honor its present and consciously participate in its future.

Portraits from the Portrait Project are easily accessible on the internet and have already been used as professional photos, as Facebook photos, on holiday cards and in company profiles. Photos of the smokestack are now in public and private collections including: the Town of Windham, Eastern Connecticut State University, the Windham Textile & History Museum, Horizons, Inc. and many private homes. This will preserve the memory of Willimantic's proud industrial history and commemorate this unique celebratory exhibition. End of an Era's memorable images will keep Willimantic's last smokestack alive in minds and hearts, while the portraits connect citizens to one another in the present as they look forward to the future.

Congratulations, Willimantic!