Featured Image: Matthew Christopher photo of the Dixie Cup Factory
BETHLEHEM, PA—On Nov. 4, 9 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m., join world-renowned industrial landscape photographer and author Matthew Christopher as he headlines the InVision Photo Festival with exclusive photo tours at historic Lehigh Valley landmark the Dixie Cup Factory in Wilson. Tickets are $134 for ArtsQuest Members and $149 for the public; they’re on sale now at www.invisionphotofestival.org.
The Dixie Cup manufacturing plant, with its iconic rooftop 40,000-gallon water tank that replicates a Dixie Cup, has been mostly abandoned for years. Built in 1921, the plant manufactured Dixie Cups until it closed in 1982. The Abandoned America photo walks are a rare opportunity for amateur and experienced photographers to go behind the gates of this industrial site. A list of recommended equipment will be sent to participants in advance of the workshops, along with instructions for parking and meeting location; this event is for ages 18 or older.
Creator of the Abandoned America website and book series, Christopher has had an interest in abandoned sites since he was a child but started documenting them a decade ago while researching the decline of the state hospital system. His photography and books, “Abandoned America: Dismantling the Dream” and “Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences,” have been featured on NBC Nightly News, the L.A. Times, NPR, Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Post, Catholic Sun, Yahoo News, the Daily Mail, New York Post, Buzzfeed, the Weather Channel, the Huffington Post and the Discovery Channel Magazine, among others.
In addition to lectures and talks throughout the country, Christopher has been teaching workshops since 2013, with as many as 40 workshops in 2018. From novice to professional photographers, all skill sets are welcome. Participants are given as much freedom as possible to explore the building and Christopher works one-on-one to discuss various techniques including camera settings, shooting in raw, exposure bracketing and using a two-second timer.
“I really want people to love and respect the places they are in, to take them seriously and not see it as an eyesore. Abandoned places are significant and meaningful to their communities, and they often represent loss,” Christopher says. “It’s different for every person. For some they represent adventure or an undefined space. For others it’s history or nostalgia, but they are also indicative of where we’re at right now as a country and a society.”
On Nov. 3, 1:30-3 p.m., Christopher will also give a lecture at the Banana Factory Arts Center on capturing the country’s most fascinating and hauntingly beautiful ruins. His work includes a fascinating tour of forgotten schools, churches, prisons, factories and more. Tickets $27 for ArtsQuest Members and $30 for the public. For the complete InVision Festival schedule, or to register for a workshop, please visit www.invisionphotofestival.org.
Information and images provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/
