March 5 - March 30, 2014

First Friday: March 7, 5 - 9 pm

Artist Reception: Sunday, March 30, 2 - 4 pm

Cities are organisms.  They are “born” (gradually evolving or ceremonially founded).  They grow large, prosper, cultivate a specialized focus (government capital or trade hub) that makes an impact on local, regional global affairs.  Some survive near-death experiences (Rome and the Huns, New Orleans and Katrina) but all- in the end- do “die”.  Sometimes catastrophically (like Pompeii) or, more likely, gradually withering away.  But virtually no ancient city, on any continent, has ever survived long term.

I am a lifelong Philadelphian and do love the best that this city can offer.  But there are many things it is not, never became and might never be…and I worry.   The clinical term is “BURNOUT”- stressed too frequently and for too long, exhausted, misdirected, disillusioned with what has been accomplished, cynical over the future.   There are many recommendations for how to personally cope with burnout, but I look at patterns of urban burnout.  This exhibit of mixed media collages is a collection of my choices.