Down These Mean Streets by Will Steacy (February 22, 2010) 
(10 votes, average: 3.70 out of 5)
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Categories / Cityscapes / Documentary Conceptual / Night Photography / / Click here to open comments section, click again when done to close / 2 Comments
Curator Statement by Michael Itkoff
In ‘Down These Mean Streets’ Will Steacy is a nocturnal flaneur that wanders around run-down areas with a wrench in his back pocket. Barney Kulok and Paul Graham come to mind when looking through these images of abandoned buildings, burned-out cars, neon signs and various
individuals. The city glows, strangely beautiful but vaguely threatening - as a picture of urbanity and its attendant vices it is not a forgiving portrait.
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Our poll "A photo essay always needs a great written story" closed. 267 people voted, 28% agrees, 72% disagrees. 233 people answered our follow-up question "Are you a photographer?" 82% indicated they are, 18% said no. Initially, negative answers to question #1 were almost 100% as was the pecentage of photographers among respondants. Then, when the level of non-photographers started to rise, the percentage of people indicating good text is always essential started to rise too. This seems to indicate that non-photographers think that adding good text to your photo essays is essential. In my opinion: if you want non-photographers to dig your work, you know what to do...
Down These Mean Streets examines fear and the abandonment of America's inner cities. Photographing only at night with a large format view camera, I work in a set routine by walking between the airport and central business district of each city I photograph. My focus is the neighborhoods you wouldnt want to be in at night; the part of town you drive through - not to.
America has turned its back on cities as years of neglect have left crumbling neighborhoods with no local economy, a public education system that barely meets requirements, a low income housing nightmare, few options for health care resources as violence and drugs reign making survival a number one priority.
We have become so preoccupied with homeland security and protecting our country from foreign forces that we have lost sight of what it is we are for fighting for.
By addressing the loss and despair that prevail in our urban communities my aim is to reveal a modern day portrait of the American inner city as problems and issues cannot be solved if they are not first identified. We must look inward at ourselves.
Will Steacy (1980) lives and works in New York City, USA.
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Goes straight to the underbelly of society and of the visitor…
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[...] itself in public, Signac's Sunday' is a more intimate and ultimately more troubling portrait of …Bite! magazine Fear And The Abandonment Of America's Inner …Goes straight to the underbelly of society and of the visitor… Good work! Leave a Comment. Name [...]