I am not afraid of heights

Sometimes the best view is from above.

Sometimes seeing life from a distance gives you needed perspective.

Sometimes it’s just cool to be on top of the world, or at least on top of Philadelphia . . . . .



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Red, White, and Blue: The American Dream?

This is why I love photography.

The American flag, a potent symbol of freedom, opportunity, and power, but also of the darker side of our countries history, is ubiquitous in the city. Philadelphia was, after all, the nation’s first city, the birthplace of the very ideas and actions that give our flag its meaning. I love being American and I love my country, but I have never considered myself terribly patriotic; it is hard to ignore the awful things that have been done to others, both in the country and around the world, under the auspices of the flag. I was surprised then, to find myself literally drawn to the flag. I couldn’t help but photograph it and before long had enough photographs to justify an entire post!

And all this looking the flag has got me thinking. In Philadelphia, the “American dream” is vibrantly alive for some, but will never be more than a distant dream for others. As an artist, each time I go out to photograph, I realized, I hope to visually represent this conflict. I view it as my responsibility.

And that is partly why I hold the flag, and my country, dear to my heart – because I know change, however complicated and difficult it is to achieve, is possible.



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“Art saves lives”

Walk the streets of Philadelphia for a day and you can’t help but notice the large colorful murals that dot the city. These are not random acts of kindness for our viewing pleasure. The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program is the largest public art program in the country. The program was started in 1984 as the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network, part of the effort to eradicate the graffiti crisis plaguing the city. From the website:

“Jane Golden (founder) quickly befriended the graffiti writers and was impressed by their raw artistic talent and their self-taught knowledge of art history. She . . . began to provide opportunities for them to channel their creative talent into mural-making. Mural painting also provided a support structure for these young men and women to refine their artistic skills, empowering them to take an active role in beautifying their own neighborhoods.”

Since it began, the program has created 3000 murals in the city. Each one represents the story of community members in the neighborhood it resides in. There is a social mission behind the organization which is part of what makes each mural special. For example:

“The Mural Arts Program has also become a national leader in arts in criminal and restorative justice, currently offering educational programs in local prisons and rehabilitation centers using the restorative power of art to break the cycle of crime and violence in communities.” There are also free educational programs to get kids involved in designing and creating murals.

Photographing art is hard. My goal was to capture how these amazing murals integrate seamlessly in the city landscape. Graffiti still exists in the city, and I captured a bit of that as well.

Comments, as always, appreciated.



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theme(less)

I usually set out to photograph with a theme in mind. Inevitably, I see things that have nothing to do with my theme, but beg to be captured nonetheless. This is a small collection of the theme(less) photographs from my last outing.



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Northern Liberties (part un)

Northern Liberties is a neighborhood just north of the eastern portion of center city Philadelphia. It is a really interesting mix of old and historic but run down, and new slash innovative. Large improvement and revitalization projects have been undertaken in this area in the last few years, attracting a young, hip, artist crowd. But you still have the gritty feel of economic depression.

Full disclosure: this is my impression having lived here for just 6 weeks (wow, 6 weeks!) . . . it may change in another 6 weeks.

Quite simply what drew me to the area was that it was difficult to describe, difficult to explain. So I will just leave it to the photos. Keep in mind all of these were taken within 3 blocks of each other. I know I didn’t quite do it justice, hence the part un. I will need to complete the job with part deux.

Comments, as always, appreciated.


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can't take my eyes off of you

City Hall.

Every time I see it, it takes my breath away. When it’s no longer in view, I can’t wait until the next time I get to see it. It inspires me. And I keep going back for more.

It’s like a strong, loving relationship.

One of the amazing things about the design of the city is that you see the building from a long distance away on any of the 4 streets that approach it. When I went out to photograph, I started far down on one of those streets and walked toward City Hall. I photographed the hall, but also, and more importantly, other stuff along the way.


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