My inspiration behind these photos comes from the "Evidence" section of the American Photography movie. In the movie, photographs were shown from the Holocaust, which were meant to tell the public just how bad the event really was. This concept is what I tried to express in my photos--the idea of objects representing times past.
The first photo was taken in downtown Grand Rapids at Rosa Parks circle. In the summertime, it is a public place always filled with people gathering for coffee, relaxing, or even attending concerts and swing dancing events. Now that it's gotten colder outside, it seems to be a much more lonely place, though the stage and openness of the location still show signs of the social hub it once was.
The second photo was taken at Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids. It was once the location of the beautiful old Kent County court and administration building. But when the city underwent a period of urban renewal in the 1960s, the lively, grandiose building was torn town and replaced with the dull, lifeless buildings seen here. The only object giving this area a "welcoming" feel is the calder statue, erected in 1969. Now, the nearly-empty area surrounding the buildings and statue is a reminder of the cold, dulling period of urban renewal.
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