Betts House Photography Exhibit Part of FOTOFOCUS
Cincinnati, OH – Urban Landscapes, on view at The Betts House October 13 - November 29, 2012, will feature the work of photographers Sherman Cahal, Zach Fein, Craig Moyer, and Ronny Salerno. An opening reception will be held Friday, October 12, 5-8 pm. A gallery talk with some of the artists will take place on October 27 at 2:00 p.m.
The images featured in the exhibit explore the how neglect and abandonment affect our built environment. The artists create beautiful and atmospheric images from the ruins of factories, churches, houses, and other structures. These photographs challenge the viewer to see beauty and potential in what could otherwise be seen as a bleak view of our urban landscape.
The four photographers featured in Urban Landscapes approach their subject from a variety of perspectives and experiences. Sherman Cahal specializes in abandonments, historical structures, transportation, and infrastructure throughout the United States. Cincinnati native Zach Fein, a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati's architecture program, focuses his work on the aesthetic of buildings that have been abandoned and how they affect the function and perception of urban spaces. Craig Moyer explores the solitude of abandoned structures and the stories that remain after their builders and inhabitants have gone. Urban street photographer and Northern Kentucky University student Ronny Salerno is an avid documentarian of the Cincinnati skyline and an explorer of abandoned structures.
Urban Landscapes is the third exhibit in The Betts House’s 2012-2013 exhibit series The Art of the Built Environment, supported by a Project Support Grant from ArtsWave (www.theArtsWave.org). The exhibit is part of FOTOFOCUS, a biennial month-long regional celebration of historical and contemporary photography and lens-based art (www.FotoFocusCincinnati.org).
Urban Landscapes Postcard (courtesy of Bett's House).
ABOUT THE BETTS HOUSE
Built in 1804, Ohio’s oldest brick house is located in the Betts-Longworth Historic District near downtown Cincinnati. The Betts House is a museum of the built environment, offering exhibits and programs exploring architecture, historic preservation, building trades, construction technologies, and building materials. The Betts House is located two blocks west of Music Hall at 416 Clark Street. The museum is open Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, 12:30 – 5 p.m. Other days and times are available by appointment. Admission is $2 per person. www.TheBettsHouse.org
ABOUT FOTOFOCUS
FOTOFOCUS, a nonprofit arts organization, champions the ubiquity of photography and its important role in contemporary culture. FOTOFOCUS recaptures the spirit of Cincinnati’s legacy as an epicenter of art production and creative exchange, and seeks to revitalize that spirit for the 21st century. Acting as a catalyst for institutional collaboration and community engagement, FOTOFOCUS organizes a month-long biennial celebration, also called FOTOFOCUS. Spotlighting independently programmed exhibitions of historical and contemporary photography and lens-based art, FOTOFOCUS launches October 2012. For more information visit www.FOTOFOCUScincinnati.org