Riley Henderson - Uninhibited Parameters

Installation at Chicago Art Department - 2011

I have been teaching at Colorado State University this year and taking a new topographics approach to the landscape, inspired by the style and locations of Robert Adems. I will continue to post these periodically.

more from the michael reese hospital

since chicago did not get the olympics, there is still the lingering question as to what exactly is going to heppen to the michael reese campus. all the landscaping has been completly removed and the rest is almost ready for demolition. there was a meeting on friday to discuss these issues between the city and interested parties, including concerned citizens of chicago. i have yet to get the news on any resolutions.

i am almost done editing the images that i feel are strong enough to represent this place and my own work. I will add a few from that collection here. I am designing a proposal to the chicago cultural center and other venues for exhibiting my work along with the photographers that shot the transition of the michael reese hospital over the past 6 months or so: tim long, mark marano, david schalliol, and dirk mathews.

again, i hope you have a chance to visit the gropius coalition chicago's website and keep informed as to the fate of the MRH.

 The Serum Center

Baumgarten Pavillion From The Kaplan PavillionOn top the Parking Garage

The Max Strauss Tumor Clinic

Looted Plaque and The Singer Building

Overgrown path

Sculpture removedSunshades on the Baumgarten Pavillion

LabratoryDivider Lot 45

MRH

i have been working on a new project with two of my colleagues on and off and shooting often solo. we are documenting the michael reese hospital on the south side of chicago, which 8 of its buildings were designed by walter gropius, founder of the bauhaus in weimar and scholar at the new bauhaus in chicago. the hospital began closing down over a year ago and only two or three of the centers are scheduled to close over the next few months. the mrh is set for demolition for the olympics in 2016, which chicago has yet to secure. if it looses the olympic bid, the area will be sold and used for new condos and the like. looters are stripping the buildings of valuable decorative elements/sculptures and security has failed to keep squatters from breaking into the facilities. 

i recently started communications with an architectural preservation organization, the gropius in chicago coalition, that is fighting to preserve the hospital. we are discussing ways to reach a greater population and inform the public the issues involved at the mrh. we are planing to host a number of informational gatherings and photographic exhibitions. please visit the gropius coalition's website, www.savemrh.com/, i believe it is worthy of your time.

here are a few images from the site.

Update on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 12:42AM by kgm photo blog

also, i redesigned my website: kevinmalella.com for the thesis show and includes only my thesis work. i am not sure how long that will last, but i doubt i will go backwards from here; only new work perhaps. i may add some of the older work to a portfolio for this blog, but only time will tell.

time to get back to work....

ok.. after a long break due to final projects and travel... mostly travel, it is time to put my nose to the grind stone again. i am taking a long look at current grad students around the U.S. and have found a few noteworthy photographers. i will upload a few from that list when i have access my personal computer + internet. until then, i will patiently await new posts and leave you with some good news; i was awarded the jeannie pierce award for the 2009 spe conference in dallas. hope to see you there.

bests,

kgm

here's a few new pics for you...

pda photobooth project updated.