Artist’s Statement

“Going to the Pictures”
An exhibit of photographs of two abandoned cinemas lovingly restored

Location: The Feldman Family Art Space, Martha's Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven, MA

Dates: October 21 - November 8, 2015

This small selection of photographs is a sub-set of my current project to photograph abandoned buildings on Martha’s Vineyard. My fascination with abandoned buildings stems from what I see as a certain (appealing) austerity in the desolation of abandoned structures which results from the ravages of time. Even though inanimate, many of these abandoned structures are “distant voices” which “speak” to me.

My photographs of these two cinemas showcase the details of the exteriors and interiors of the Capawock (opened in 1913) and the Strand (opened in 1915). Both cinemas had been shuttered for several years but thanks to the vision and generosity of Mark Snider and the Martha's Vineyard Theatre Foundation, which he created for the purpose of the restorations, the cinemas were reopened earlier this year. Happily, Mark agreed to my request to photograph the various stages of the restoration process.

I have selected the photographs for this show for their imagery rather than as a comprehensive, historical record of the original state of each cinema and each stage of their restorations. These photos tell the story up to the days of the grand openings in May and June 2015, respectively. Visit these movie theaters to see the wonderful restorations for yourself!