16″x 24″ Going Down Swingin – Gary, Indiana

16″x 24″ Long Exposure Photograph with color light from a Protomachines flash glows amongst the rubble of City Methodist church. Jerome Prince, the new mayor of Gary, Indiana, asked his fellow residents: “Stick with us. Be patient.” He encouraged everyone to “Re-Imagine Gary.” What would it take to transform empty buildings into new businesses, run-down houses into prosperous homes? The reasons behind the collapse of Gary are as complicated as they are simple. After the demise of US Steel – Gary’s main employer and benefactor – a once bustling town center was abandoned by its mostly white population at the time, who fled for the suburbs and beyond. While many of the lost buildings, apartments, and businesses have been demolished now, City Methodist church (whose congregation went from thousands to hundreds), still stands wide open to the elements, adventure seekers, party people, graffiti artists, and all the animals you can think of. City Methodist is a testament to how our difficult historical past returns, again and again, to play with us in strange, sad, and, yet, beautiful ways. Mayor Prince sees the potential of the latter. Have faith. Keep going. That’s the spirit of Gary, Indiana.