Hruzek:Research

Captured Decay

Museum:

Menil in Houston

Dates: May 10, 2013- September 26, 2013

Foreword:

This exhibition has been put together to bring together forgotten spaces to show how they function presently. Through viewing the photography of decaying and dilapidated structures and objects bring a quiet reminder of the history surrounding the beautiful ruins. My purpose is to focus and discern what causes the fascination of a structure or object once it has ruined and become desolate similar to ancient ruins like the Collosseum or Parthenon. Furthermore, to bring to light the fascination with decay of the world around us and lack of human presence in an area.

Focus is placed in society on the ruined structures and bring intrigue to the history. From ancient societies, the most famous and iconic structures are also the most dilapidated. There is a sense of foreboding mystery as to why a place has been abandoned. Humanity has a strange desire to discern and to poke into histories not belonging to them.

I chose to hold the exhibit at the Menil in Houston, Texas due to the environment surrounding the museum. Many neighborhoods and areas in Houston are slowly being converted from abandoned, older buildings to be remodeled into new homes. The beginning stage of this phenomenon is embodied through this exhibition.

Exhibition Essays:

“I am often asked why I choose to photograph these deteriorating buildings and remote places. It took me a while to come up with an answer that made sense, because I am simply to these forgotten spaces. I am interested in the textures of peeling paint, rusting metal, broken glass, and so forth. It comes as a surprise to me that there are so many abandoned spaces that remain in our constantly growing society. In this series, my intent is to show the passersby what is normally overlooked, and to take in the beauty that I see.” -Stephanie Schulz

http://www.aip.org/history/einstein/essay.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/magazine/how-detroit-became-the-world-capital-of-staring-at-abandoned-old-buildings.html?pagewanted=allz

Exhibition Checklist:

Trim size: Coffee table- 11x17

Vertical

Matte Paper

Book Parts:

Front Cover, Foreword, Table of Contents, Essays, images with captions, Exhibition checklist

Typography:

caption/checklist typeface (sans-serif)

display typeface-logo mark, section labels, large type (sans-serif)

paragraph typeface-essays, foreward (serif)

Colors will be neutral, rusts and dark browns, with accents of bright teal or red

It will highlight aspects of the imagery.

Grid Systems:

outside margin: 0.5 in

gutter margin:

top margin:0.5in

bottom margin:0.5in

4 columns per page

width of text column for main text:

main text will not be split into multiple columns on one page.

space between images placed on the same page will vary

Imagery:

CMYK

Photos

both margin and full bleed

Strategy for grouping multiple images will be balancing negative and positive space, possibly mirroring the compositions of one main image in the grouping.

captions: include type of camera, location, year