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ARIZONA here there then now

1998 - 2007

 

The 'ARIZONA here there then now' project spanned roughly nine years. During that time, I was living in New York City and yearly visiting my longtime friend Sharon Holnback in Arizona. We would take random road trips all over the state- the whole while taking photographs and delighting in eccentricities.

 

It was a time of unforeseen changes for me, on many levels.  An eighteen year relationship was ending, World Trade Center / 9-11 attack occurred, and photography as I knew it began to shift from analog to digital. My life was trembling like an earthquake under my feet and somehow these desert jaunts helped me gain a solid footing.

In hindsight, I realize that 'ARIZONA here there then now' is a documentation of a bygone era, rapidly fading and times a'changing; a slow goodbye to an Arizona of yore. Much of what was photographed has disappeared - murals erased, buildings knocked down, businesses gone under, and deserts depleted of nature and planted instead with housing developments, strip mall and roads. I also recognized the parallel for the change occurring in my life. A fond farewell.

 

In late 2006, I moved back to Arizona after 14 years in New York City. The project was completed shortly thereafter. These are my last images of Arizona shot with film. 

Notes

ARIZONA here there then now was photographed in the old-school analog tradition, using film (black & white, color and Polaroid positive / negative) and modified Dianas, Holgas, Nikon 35mm and a handmade camera. Included here is a small selection from the project.
 

Selections from ARIZONA here there then now 

Solo exhibition, The Station, Oracle Arizona 2008
Art Rooms, Historic Hotel Congress, Tucson AZ 2010
Solo exhibition, Tucson International Airport, 2011-2012

Tucson, Arizona 2000

Tucson, Arizona 2000

Red Garter Horse

San Manuel, Arizona 2005

San Manuel, Arizona 2005

Building and Cloud

Holbrook, Arizona 2003

Holbrook, Arizona 2003

Old Sign on Building

Oracle, Arizona 2003

Oracle, Arizona 2003

Dwight with VW Van Triangle L Ranch

Miami, Arizona 2005

Miami, Arizona 2005

Brown House with Cactus

South Tucson, Arizona 2003

South Tucson, Arizona 2003

Sabor Rico Tacqueria

Tucson, Arizona 2004

Tucson, Arizona 2004

Mustang Bar Old Nogales Highway

Galiuro Mountains, Arizona 2005

Galiuro Mountains, Arizona 2005

Earl, Copper Creek Ghost Town

South Tucson, Arizona 2000

South Tucson, Arizona 2000

Zapata Mural

South Tucson, Arizona 2000

South Tucson, Arizona 2000

Three Headed Mural

Miami, Arizona 2005

Miami, Arizona 2005

Manufacturing Yellow Car

Santa Cruz River Valley Arizona 2006

Santa Cruz River Valley Arizona 2006

Tumacácori Mission

Oracle, Arizona 2004

Oracle, Arizona 2004

Sharon Holback and Tree

Oracle, Arizona 2002

Oracle, Arizona 2002

Full Moon Tree Triangle L Ranch

Klondyke, Arizona 2005

Klondyke, Arizona 2005

Car in Hillside with Cloud

San Pedro Valley, Arizona 2005

San Pedro Valley, Arizona 2005

Desert Dirt Road

Tucson, Arizona 2005

Tucson, Arizona 2005

Dawne's House

Oracle, Arizona 2003

Oracle, Arizona 2003

Smiling Sharon Triangle L Ranch

Oracle, Arizona 2002

Oracle, Arizona 2002

Observatory Biosphere II

Oracle, Arizona 2002

Oracle, Arizona 2002

Full Moon House Triangle L Ranch

Tucson, Arizona 2002

Tucson, Arizona 2002

Earl's Studio

St. Johns, Arizona 2003

St. Johns, Arizona 2003

John Wayne Mural

San Manuel, Arizona 2005

San Manuel, Arizona 2005

Gordon's Supermarket

Superior, Arizona 2004

Superior, Arizona 2004

Mission Cola Magma Hotel

Willcox, Arizona 2005

Willcox, Arizona 2005

House #140

Tucson, Arizona 2005

Tucson, Arizona 2005

Tree, Truck, Wall

North of Catalina, Arizona 2002

North of Catalina, Arizona 2002

Santa Catalina Mountains

Rte. 177, Kearney, Arizona 2004

Rte. 177, Kearney, Arizona 2004

Strip Mine

South Tucson, 2004

South Tucson, 2004

Wrangler

Mammoth, Arizona 2004

Mammoth, Arizona 2004

Horse Head over Door

Galiuro Mountains, Arizona 2005

Galiuro Mountains, Arizona 2005

Secret Cave View

Willcox, Arizona 2005

Willcox, Arizona 2005

Shadow & Clouds

Santa Catalina Mts., Arizona 2005

Santa Catalina Mts., Arizona 2005

Agaves back side of Mt. Lemmon

Willcox Arizona, 2005

Willcox Arizona, 2005

Arizona Sunset Motel

Holbrook, Arizona 2003

Holbrook, Arizona 2003

Old Motel

San Pedro Valley, Arizona 2005

San Pedro Valley, Arizona 2005

Christmas Trees and Mailbox

Oracle, Arizona 2005

Oracle, Arizona 2005

Sunset Sharon Holnback Triangle L Ranch

Benson, Arizona 2005

Benson, Arizona 2005

Riverside Inn

Mammoth, Arizona 2002

Mammoth, Arizona 2002

Cocktail Lounge & Dancing Blue Front Inn

Coolidge/Florence, Arizona 2004

Coolidge/Florence, Arizona 2004

Cake Building Route 79

Hayden/Winkelman, Arizona 2002

Hayden/Winkelman, Arizona 2002

Car, Flag, Tires Mining Town

Holbrook, Arizona 2003

Holbrook, Arizona 2003

Dinosaur and Truck

South Tucson, Arizona 2003

South Tucson, Arizona 2003

Building Face

Clifton, Arizona 2003

Clifton, Arizona 2003

Pink House with Cypress

Mammoth, Arizona 2003

Mammoth, Arizona 2003

Glamorous Ice Cream

Winkelman, Arizona 2003

Winkelman, Arizona 2003

Twin Trees

Willcox, Arizona 2005

Willcox, Arizona 2005

Mid-Century Motel

Superior, Arizona 2004

Superior, Arizona 2004

Town of Superior

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