The "Selected Works" exhibit celebrates over 20 years of the photography of Andrew Pielage, a Phoenix-based photographer. Hand-picked images showcased in the exhibit span a range from travel scenes to architectural marvels.

Andrew Pielage's affinity for adventure traces back to his early years spent at his family's gold claims in Arizona, instilling in him a deep-rooted connection with exploration and movement. These formative experiences greatly influenced his need for travel, which has become a central aspect of his life.

In 2011, Pielage stumbled upon the captivating interplay between landscape and architectural design while exploring the works of Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright's creations ignited Pielage's passion for capturing this relationship, motivating his ongoing mission to photograph all of Wright’s remaining designs.

Pittsburgh Photography Club

January 7, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Zoom meeting starts at 7:00PM, presentation starts at 7:30PM

Join us as we host professional photographer Andrew Pielage for a captivating visual presentation highlighting over 14 years of documenting Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural legacy. Pielage will share insights into his ambitious project to photograph every surviving Wright design.

Learn how his beginnings in desert landscape photography honed his skills, deepened his appreciation for organic forms, and fueled his passion for capturing architectural masterpieces worldwide.

Through personal stories behind some of his most iconic images and a look at his unique photographic techniques, this behind-the-scenes journey offers a fascinating glimpse into Pielage’s creative process and artistic vision.

Members will receive a Zoom link through the Mailing List. If you are not a member and would like to join us, send a request for the link to: webmaster@pghphoto.org

Photography by Stacy Iannaccone

Project Overview: "Vacant Visions" is a thought-provoking photography project that delves into the untold stories of Phoenix's unused retail and commercial spaces that are beginning to show signs of dilapidation. This project captures the silent decay of these once-thriving spaces, left empty due to a combination of economic shifts, the lingering effects of the pandemic, and landlords holding out for the elusive "perfect tenant." Through a series of black-and-white darkroom prints, the project explores the delicate balance between revitalization and decay, gentrification and preservation, and the role landlords play in shaping the future of the city.

Concept and Technique: Each photograph in "Vacant Visions" is a black-and-white Gelatin Silver darkroom print that captures the stark reality of Phoenix's abandoned and neglected commercial spaces. The images are presented in a dual state: one half of the print showcases the building as it stands today, with peeling paint, broken windows, and overgrown weeds, while the other half is Mordançaged symbolizing a vision of what these spaces could become if left to decay further.

Mordançage is a unique photographic process that alters and degrades a gelatin silver print using a chemical solution of hydrogen peroxide, copper chloride, and acetic acid. This solution softens and lifts the emulsion in darker areas of the print, allowing manipulation to create unique textures, veils, and inversion effects.

This project seeks to address the complex reasons behind the increasing number of vacant commercial spaces in Phoenix. The pandemic has left many businesses shuttered, unable to survive the economic downturn. Landlords, facing financial pressures, often choose to leave spaces empty rather than lower rents, not wanting to lock in commercial leases at a low rate, which could reduce the value of the building if they choose to refinance or sell.

However, this approach can backfire, as empty spaces can lead to urban blight, causing entire neighborhoods to stagnate or decline.

"Vacant Visions" also explores the fine line between gentrification and community development. It questions whether landlords should prioritize renting to artists, creatives, and makers who, though they may pay lower rents, can breathe life and culture into a space, making it more attractive in the long term. The project challenges the viewer to consider how a balance can be struck between welcoming these lower-rent tenants and eventually attracting higher-paying businesses to enhance the area's growth further.

Impact and Reflection: Through "Vacant Visions," viewers are invited to reflect on the broader implications of urban development and the role that property owners and tenants play in shaping the character and future of Phoenix. The images serve as a visual commentary on the unintended consequences and the potential for long-term decay. The project underscores the importance of proactive and thoughtful urban planning, where both landlords and tenants contribute to the health and vibrancy of the city.

In capturing these spaces on the brink of transformation or deterioration, "Vacant Visions" asks: What kind of city do we want to live in, and who has the power to shape it? The project leaves the answer open-ended, encouraging dialogue and action from all stakeholders in the community.

Join us for an exclusive presentation by renowned photographer and educator Andrew Pielage as he explores the personal connection between two of architecture’s most visionary figures: John Lautner and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Discover how Wright, the master of organic architecture, mentored a young Lautner, whose bold, futuristic designs would go on to reshape modern architecture. This captivating session delves into the shared ideals and inspirations that defined their groundbreaking work—highlighting the influence of Wright’s desert laboratory at Taliesin West on Lautner’s visionary ideas for a master-planned community in Desert Hot Springs, California.

In 1947, Hollywood movie mogul Lucien Hubbard commissioned John Lautner to create a master-planned community of multiple Lautner Living Units, a swimming pool clubhouse with an expansive pool and multiple plunge pools, and commercial spaces. Unfortunately, only the 4 prototype Lautner Living Units remained standing and were impeccably restored starting in 2008 and brought back to life by the current owners in 2012. Their resurrection of the development is now known as The Lautner Compound.

Through Pielage’s lens, you’ll explore the seamless harmony between architecture and nature that both architects championed while examining how Lautner’s fearless approach pushed Wright’s original concepts to new frontiers.

In addition, Pielage will share his journey photographing all 532 remaining Wright-designed buildings worldwide. This unique project offers an unparalleled opportunity to compare and contrast the distinctive design philosophies of Wright and Lautner.

Andrew Pielage, a self-taught photographer and owner of the Brill Gallery & Studio in Phoenix, Arizona, has over 30 years of experience photographing landscapes and over a decade dedicated to capturing Wright’s iconic structures. He is the principal photographer for two Wright books published by Rizzoli: 50 Lessons to Learn from Frank Lloyd Wright and Taliesin West: At Home with Frank Lloyd Wright. Pielage also leads photography workshops at several Wright sites nationwide, including Taliesin, Taliesin West, Fallingwater and the Phyllis and Kenneth Laurent Residence.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see Wright and Lautner’s legacies through the eyes of one of the foremost photographers of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture. In addition to the lecture, guests can tour "The Lautner", which is comprised of 4 incredible "Lautner Living Units". This is your chance to immerse yourself in John Lautner’s spectacular and visionary architecture.

www.thelautnercompound.com

Photography by Stacy Iannaccone

Project Overview: "Vacant Visions" is a thought-provoking photography project that delves into the untold stories of Phoenix's unused retail and commercial spaces that are beginning to show signs of dilapidation. This project captures the silent decay of these once-thriving spaces, left empty due to a combination of economic shifts, the lingering effects of the pandemic, and landlords holding out for the elusive "perfect tenant." Through a series of black-and-white darkroom prints, the project explores the delicate balance between revitalization and decay, gentrification and preservation, and the role landlords play in shaping the future of the city.

Concept and Technique: Each photograph in "Vacant Visions" is a black-and-white Gelatin Silver darkroom print that captures the stark reality of Phoenix's abandoned and neglected commercial spaces. The images are presented in a dual state: one half of the print showcases the building as it stands today, with peeling paint, broken windows, and overgrown weeds, while the other half is Mordançaged symbolizing a vision of what these spaces could become if left to decay further.

Mordançage is a unique photographic process that alters and degrades a gelatin silver print using a chemical solution of hydrogen peroxide, copper chloride, and acetic acid. This solution softens and lifts the emulsion in darker areas of the print, allowing manipulation to create unique textures, veils, and inversion effects.

This project seeks to address the complex reasons behind the increasing number of vacant commercial spaces in Phoenix. The pandemic has left many businesses shuttered, unable to survive the economic downturn. Landlords, facing financial pressures, often choose to leave spaces empty rather than lower rents, not wanting to lock in commercial leases at a low rate, which could reduce the value of the building if they choose to refinance or sell.

However, this approach can backfire, as empty spaces can lead to urban blight, causing entire neighborhoods to stagnate or decline.

"Vacant Visions" also explores the fine line between gentrification and community development. It questions whether landlords should prioritize renting to artists, creatives, and makers who, though they may pay lower rents, can breathe life and culture into a space, making it more attractive in the long term. The project challenges the viewer to consider how a balance can be struck between welcoming these lower-rent tenants and eventually attracting higher-paying businesses to enhance the area's growth further.

Impact and Reflection: Through "Vacant Visions," viewers are invited to reflect on the broader implications of urban development and the role that property owners and tenants play in shaping the character and future of Phoenix. The images serve as a visual commentary on the unintended consequences and the potential for long-term decay. The project underscores the importance of proactive and thoughtful urban planning, where both landlords and tenants contribute to the health and vibrancy of the city.

In capturing these spaces on the brink of transformation or deterioration, "Vacant Visions" asks: What kind of city do we want to live in, and who has the power to shape it? The project leaves the answer open-ended, encouraging dialogue and action from all stakeholders in the community.