Matthew Christopher's abandonedamerica.us work will be on display from March 16th, 2012 through May 12, 2012 at the Genesee Center for the Arts and Education at 713 Monroe Ave. in Rochester, NY. The opening is on March 16th at 7 PM. Approximately 30 pieces will be on display including some work never before hung in a gallery show. If you'd like to RSVP you can do so here although it is not necessary. I hope to see you there!

abandonedamerica.us' questions for February include: What is the coolest place I've been to? What's the scariest thing that's happened to me and have I ever left a place because I was spooked? And how do I get into sites, anyway?

If, at it's core, the photography of ruins is dealing with death and mortality, how should it approach the subject? How does the literal depiction of death through art and photography play into the subject? In this post we'll examine these topics and try to come to some conclusion about the purpose and approach taken with regards to the subject, and what can be expected by the viewer. Thoughts and opinions are welcome.

What are reasonable expectations of the genre of the photography of ruins? What makes one's body of work a success or a failure? What expectations are reasonable to have of this line of art and the photographers who work in it? Who is to blame for the staggering losses these photographs present? Short answer: I don't know, and probably me.

What constitutes "ruin porn"? How did the term come about? And what is its use and validity in the discussion of photography of ruins? In the first installment of this series, I will explain the history and evolution of this overused term and where it fits into the dialogue about abandoned sites, preservation, and art. Thoughts and comments welcome.

a new gallery (carrington elks lodge) is added to the site, and improvements to interface and layout are being made!