A Nation in Frame: “To Thee We Sing” at Salmagundi Club Honors the Heart of America
New York City - July 9 - As the United States prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary, its semiquincentennial, the nation finds itself not only at a historic milestone but at a cultural crossroads. Questions about identity, belonging, legacy, and future direction echo throughout the American consciousness. In this moment of reflection and renewal, the Salmagundi Club, one of New York City’s oldest and most revered art institutions, offers a visual response of rare poetic depth.
From July 1 through July 29, 2025, the Salmagundi Club presents “To Thee We Sing”, an evocative photographic exhibition and sale in its Bridge & Hartley galleries. Open to the public and free of charge, this exhibition stands as a heartfelt tribute to Americana and the American experience. A collaboration with COGAP (The United States Coast Guard Art Program), the show brings together a chorus of Salmagundi photographers who have trained their lenses on the places, symbols, and sentiments that continue to define—and challenge—the idea of America.
The reception for the event is today, July 9, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM and is open to the public.
RSVP required to attend and available at the following link: Click here
Drinks for sale in the Wiggins bar (card only, no cash)
A Collective Anthem of the American Spirit
"To Thee We Sing" borrows its title from the patriotic hymn My Country, ’Tis of Thee, and in doing so, sets the tone for a show that hums with reverence, but never lapses into cliché. Instead, what emerges is a vibrant tapestry of images that together construct a visual anthem—a chorus sung not in unison, but in harmony.
From harbor lights casting golden reflections on quiet waters to boisterous main street parades lined with waving flags, the imagery throughout the show is varied in mood but united in message. These are photographs of celebration and contemplation, of service and sacrifice, of unity in diversity. They reflect the America of both memory and immediacy—a country remembered, experienced, and reimagined.
Each artist featured in the exhibition contributes a unique voice to the overarching theme. The roster includes: Peter Smejkal, Bonnie Seiler, Carole Teller, Jane Sklar, Marcia Lloyd, Neil Allen, Rosemary Hawkins, Mary McKenna Ridge, Anne-Marie Dannenberg, Anthony Almeida, Carolyn Antonucci-Almeida, Hope Herman Wurmfeld, Jeffrey Friedkin, and Joseph Ralph Fraia.
Together, these artists shape a multifaceted vision of a country both vast in geography and layered in meaning. Their photographs show us what it looks like to celebrate America not just as a place on a map, but as a living, evolving story.
A Personal Ode to the American Experience: Joseph Ralph Fraia
While the exhibition is, by design, a collective undertaking, the presence of Joseph Ralph Fraia stands out as a particularly resonant contribution. Fraia, a distinguished photojournalist and fine artist, approaches Americana with an eye that is both empathetic and exacting. His work in To Thee We Sing does not simply depict the American experience; it interrogates and elevates it.
Photo by Joseph Ralph Fraia
National Pastime
Fraia’s photographs possess a lyrical stillness, even when capturing moments in motion. "National Pastime" cleverly blends American iconography and the spirit of baseball into a bold visual statement. Using painted baseball bats arranged to mimic the U.S. flag, Fraia comments on the deep-rooted connection between national identity and sport. The composition is both playful and poignant—thirteen bats alternate red and white, while the blue, star-studded section conjures the flag’s canton, asserting baseball as not just a game, but a cultural pillar. The glossy finish and storefront reflections add layers, inviting viewers to question whether this homage leans toward celebration or critique. The caps in the foreground nod to fandom and commercialism, grounding the piece in the consumer reality of America's pastime. Fraia’s work toes the line between pop art and Americana, provoking thought without sacrificing charm. “National Pastime” captures the way baseball echoes American values — discipline, nostalgia, and showmanship — while leaving space for questions about myth and meaning.
Photo by Joseph Ralph Fraia
Honor and Valor
In “Honor and Valor”, Joseph Ralph Fraia captures a haunting stillness that amplifies the solemnity of the Korean War Veterans Memorial, blanketed in snow. Rendered in stark black and white, the image evokes both memory and mourning. The ghostly soldiers, shrouded in snow, seem frozen in time, caught mid-patrol in a battle long past yet never forgotten. The barren branches to the left arc over the scene like a quiet salute, while the American and POW/MIA flags wave resolutely in the distance to the right, symbols of enduring sacrifice and remembrance. Fraia’s composition skillfully balances heaviness and grace; the soft snow dulls the harshness of war, yet the stooped, weary figures remind us of its toll. This photograph doesn’t just document a winter landscape — it bears witness to it. In Honor and Valor, Fraia honors those who served not with spectacle, but with reverence, creating a poignant meditation on duty, endurance, and national memory.
In Fraia’s hands, the camera becomes a bridge between generations, a tool of memory and witness. He reminds us that American identity is not found in symbols alone, but in the lived moments that make up our days. His artistry lies in his ability to take the intimate and make it universal, to frame the ordinary as sacred. In a time when national narratives are often polarized, Fraia offers something rare: a vision of America that is honest, compassionate, and inclusive.
Photography as Memory and Meaning
The curatorial success of To Thee We Sing lies in its commitment to nuance. This is not a show of flag-waving bravado, but a meditation on what patriotism can mean in 2025. Through the photographers’ lenses, we are shown not only the beauty of landscapes and traditions but the humanity embedded within them.
Each image in the exhibition adds a note to a larger composition — one that avoids false uniformity and instead embraces the textured complexity of American life.
A Visual Tribute to Enduring Values
The timing of this exhibition is no accident. With the semiquincentennial celebrations officially beginning on Memorial Day 2025 and culminating on July 4, 2026, the nation is entering a period of remembrance and renewal. To Thee We Sing meets this moment not with spectacle, but with sincerity.
At its core, the exhibition is about preservation — not just of images, but of ideas. In showcasing harbor lights, street parades, coastlines, and faces, these photographers are preserving something increasingly fragile: a belief in shared identity, in continuity, and in community.
The essence of Americana — its rituals, aesthetics, and emotional registers — is captured here with care and craft. And as we navigate the complexities of our present, shows like To Thee We Sing are vital reminders of what binds us: our stories, our symbols, and our shared longing for something enduring.
Looking Ahead: The Role of Art in National Reflection
As the United States approaches its 250th year, the importance of cultural reflection cannot be overstated. Art, particularly photography, plays a vital role in this reckoning. It allows us to see who we are, where we’ve been, and who we might become. It preserves not just what we look like, but what we feel—and what we value.
The Salmagundi Club’s decision to host 'To Thee We Sing' is a testament to the enduring role of artists in shaping the national conversation. Founded in 1871, the Club has long been a sanctuary for American artistic expression. With this exhibition, it once again affirms its commitment to both excellence and relevance.
More than just an art show, To Thee We Sing is a public offering—a visual hymn of hope, gratitude, and resolve. It asks us to look closer, to remember deeply, and to sing, in whatever way we can, the enduring song of America.
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“To Thee We Sing”
Exhibit & Sale
Salmagundi Club, Bridge & Hartley Galleries
July 1 – July 29, 2025
Tuesday – Friday | 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Admission: Free and open to the public
To RSVP for the July 9 reception, click here
Article by Livein Magazine staff
Images courtesy of Joseph Ralph Fraia