By STEVE PFARRER
Disaster struck Southampton photographer Robert Floyd last week when fire destroyed his East Street home. Thankfully, he and his partner, Linda Emerson, and the couple’s two dogs were not hurt.
But Floyd, who runs the Robert Floyd Gallery and Learning Center just down the street from his gutted house, says he’s had to cancel a photo exhibit there on the history of basketball because of all the tumult.
Instead, he’s fashioned a new show, “Treasures from the Vault,” which he calls an “eclectic” mix of contemporary and historic photography that he’s gathered since he opened the gallery 15 years ago.
“It’s an amazing collection of work that features many strong artists from the Valley,” said Floyd, who is also Southampton’s town moderator. “Much of it we haven’t exhibited before.”
The show opened this week and will run through Jan. 31, 2017, with a reception Jan. 8; the gallery’s “Sunday Conversations” series will also offer additional discussion about the work on Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29, all at 3 p.m.
Floyd, a longtime professional photographer, said he and Emerson are currently staying in a hotel in Holyoke (their dogs are being boarded) while they assess their next move. His exhibit on basketball will be staged at some point in the future, he said.
“It’s been a shock [losing our house], but we’re fine, the gallery’s fine — it could have been worse,” he said.
Steve Pfarrer can be reached at spfarrer@gazettenet.com.
Visit www.robertfloydphoto.com for visiting hours and additional information.