craigstellmacher's blogs

100abandonedhomesinminneapolis.com

January 22, 2009

Documents 100 abandoned homes in Minneapolis


To a Photographer, most people seem to walk around with their eyes closed.

Photographers look, and photograph things others don't see--or even look away from.

Sometimes, Photographs say things there are no words for.




With Photographs and words, the stories of 100 abandoned homes...



Because they're not just abandoned houses--

they're abandoned homes.








Today the number of abandoned homes stuns me--while I see homeless people at the same time. I think some people are driving by, and not seeing it. If, I had 100 photographs of abandoned homes, I can show people--it will be harder for them to look away.

But because these are NOT just "abondoned structures"--I figure they have stories to them. Once, they held people, families, children. Communities are many things. People, and their homes.





Please tell me the story of how you had to walk past one next to your church, for two years, all the while looking at things in the yard.


Please tell me the story of how someone overdosed in a boarded up house on the corner.


Please tell me how you can't believe there are three in a row.

Please tell me the story of the elderly lady whose husband died, and she had no money to stay

Please tell me the story of how it affects your neighborhood

Please tell me the story of how it atracts crime

Please tell me the story how one has been right next to your business for a year

Please tell me the story of beautiful woodwork that surrounds the attic and windows

Please tell me the story of it's such an eye sore you can't believe

Please tell me the story of how you see it right out your front window



Please post addresses you want photographed...

Addresses posted here will be taken down when photographed.

But the stories will stay up forever--so please tell me a story.


If you don't live in Minneapolis--don't worry. I encourage all to get involved--especially photographers. Are there a 100 abandoned homes in Pittsburgh? 100 abondoned homes in Anchorage? In Seattle? In LIverpool? In Toronto? In Johanasburg? In Taiwan? In Krakow?

If you send me photographs of abandoned homes in Paris--I will not post them here but would love to look at them. I would love to hear from you in Athens or St Petersburg about your abandoned homes. Show me what you see, and tell me what you learn from showing them.

As a photographer--I admit they have always called to me, and I've had to photograph them. Usually, it was in the countryside, and I had to stop the car.

But, I realize there's 100 abandoned homes in Minneapolis within 5 miles of my house. I intend to photograph them.





I don't know where this will going,

I don't know who will see them,

I am not trying to pressure any person, or institution.

nor do I think I have the solution,

I'm not trying to point the finger at anyone,

I'm not trying to point the finger at Banks, Politicians, or different groups.

I'm trying to point the finger at the Abandoned homes.

I just know I have to do it,

and I will let the photographs speak for themselves.








I will inform Mayor Rybak of Minneapolis. I invite him in fact to go to an abandoned home with me, and I'll photograph him there.

And I will tell his story, and what he thinks are the solutions to this problem.




And I will inform Paul Ostrow, City Councilman and grade-school friend, and invite him to go to an abandoned home with me, and I'll photograph him there.

And I will tell his story, and what he thinks are the solutions to this problem.




And I will ask Rep Kieth Ellison, to go to an abandoned home with me, and I'll photograph him there.

And I will tell his story, and what he thinks are the solutions to this problem


I will gladly meet anyone else from the comuninty, but since my theme is abandoned homes, I ask that one be in the photograph.



I would like this to be apolitical though. I don't want it there to be shouting or strident political posts. I will take them down.

This is about the Photographs, and the homes, and the stories of the community around them.



I have already informed Moveon.org that I am doing this, and they will spread the word.

I will be posting progress reports about this on Facebook and Dailykos. ( Facebook group "100abandonedhomes"




I also belong to an international Artists Collective called bluecanvas.com. Within 24 hours of joining, I had friends in Taiwan, Autsralia, Canada, and will be asking them to take this on too.









so many photographers just record things as they are...

I hope this might change things.





As I said at the start:

To a Photographer, most people seem to walk around with their eyes closed.

Photographers look, and photograph things others don't see--or even look away from.

Sometimes, Photographs say things there are no words for.

And after we have

100,

1000,

10,000

100,000 photographs of abandoned homes, we may start to look at them in a new way.

Anyway, it may be that no one wants to do this, I will do it anyway.



Far better, was if it became a meme, an idea that was adopted.






so many photographers just record things as they are...

I hope to change things




because these aren't just abandoned houses--

these are abandoned homes.



Craig Stellmacher

1/21/09


I am a serious Artist and Photographer.

website Art Gallery at : http://www.craigstellmacher.com/

Pro Digital Gallery at : http://www.bluecanvas.com/craigstellmacher/

from this second website, go to folder marked : "100abandonedhomes" and you may download hi res jpgs 2-3 mgs in size for free. I sell from my other folders, and downloads are impossible. Abandoned home photographs are free from this folder for your personal use. Photographs on this website, will be in much lower resolution.