Abandoned America September Updates News on the upcoming book and website updates galore! Thankfully after July things have settled a bit, which has allowed me to focus on adding more to the website. There's a ton of new content and galleries and some great opportunities if you're a photographer or interested in preservation. Let's get to it: - My book is now available for pre-order on Amazon! "Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences" is available here and will be shipped November 7th. It has over 30 locations, one of which I've never posted online, much more in-depth history on each spot than the website, a foreword by "The Geography of Nowhere" author James Howard Kunstler, and something like 230+ images (no, I'm not counting them all), many of which were specifically created or re-edited for the book. The first printing run is limited and pre-sales have already been strong (yay!), so if you're looking for it as a holiday gift it may be best to move quickly!
- Gallery Updates: This month has quite a few updates and additions. Here they are:
- Boston Psychopathic Hospital: The Boston Psychopathic Hospital, built from 1910-1912, was the first mental health hospital in Massachusetts. Later renamed the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, it was abandoned in 2003 and demolished in 2011. Here is what it looked like in 2008.
- The Hershey Chocolate Factory: Closed in 2012 as production moved to a newer plant in West Hershey and factories in Mexico, the original, iconic Hershey Chocolate factory was being demolished less than a year later. These are its final days.
- Kruggerands Department Store*: Kruggerands Department Store* was once a part of an outdoor shopping mall that now lies in shambles. The new owner's hopes to turn it into a haunted house may help revitalize the area.
- Barnes* Meat Packing Company: Abandoned for decades, the Barnes Meat Packing Company has been overgrown with flora, but the stillness barely camouflages the slaughterhouse's bloody past.
- St. Katherine's Academy:Built in 1899 as an inn, the Saint Katherine Academy was later converted to a girls' school and convent. Abandoned in 1981, the future of the building is uncertain.
- Mayview State Hospital: Abandoned in 2008, Mayview State Hospital in South Fayette Township, PA had just been sold to the developer who would raze it when I photographed it.
- Workshops:
- The regular roster of workshops has been updated, with possibly one or two more in October/November on the way. So far I've raised over $45,000 for various historic and abandoned locations through the workshops and appreciate your support of them.
- I created a Facebook group for people who attended workshops to share their images, so if you've been on one and want to show off your work or you just want to see more of what the trips are all about, click here to join.
- Website maintenance stuff: Do you know what Open Graph info is? It's boring, that's what. I updated all of it on my website though, which means that gallery pages should share much more appealingly on Facebook. If you want to impress your friends with abandoned stuff, there you go.
- Other news: I'm judging a photography exhibition for the PhotoPlace Gallery in Vermont. If you photograph abandoned things, it's a great opportunity to get your work displayed and add to your artist's resume. Here's a link to the info page. Also, if you're in the Philadelphia area and would like to support the restoration of a fantastic theater and have a great night of photography, film, and food, consider buying a ticket to the Art of the Lansdowne event this Saturday, September 20. Info can be found here. There is also a call for entries for Preservation Pennsylvania's transportation themes contest here, if you happen to have any photographs that may be based on interesting transportation related relics in Pennsylvania (you do not have to be a PA resident to enter, however). Info is here.
- The Abandoned America Facebook page: You probably already follow it but I feel compelled to mention that if you don't you're missing out on all the new work and periodic print giveaways. It's right here, if you'd like to take a look.
Thanks again for taking an interest in the places I love, and for the support and encouragement along the way. I am truly lucky to have the opportunity to share my work with others, and as always will be working on adding to the website, creating new photo workshops, and finding new ways for you to get involved in the fight to keep these places standing.
Sincerely,
Matthew Christopher |
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