Browse Shows

August 25 — October 07 2007

Featuring:

• Ansley West

I have been a silent observer of Candler Park and Lake Claire over the past few months. Though I was hesitant about moving back to Atlanta after school, this neighborhood has proven that my decision was the correct one. Each day I set out on foot, with my camera in hand, as a traveler in my own community. My wanderings have never ceased to amaze me and I have proven to myself that travel is not about physical distance, but can happen in your own backyard. Every day I discover beautiful people, who always greet me warmly, and marvel at the size of my great dane Charley.



I spend every morning at Dr. Bombay's, our cozy coffee shop, and I shop at the Candler Market. I have gotten to know the adventurous children in the park who always greet me with smiles and an energetic desire to pose for the camera. I photographed the Queens of the Candler Park pool, who make learning to swim seem like learning to fly. I have met my beautiful neighbor, whose yard is a sculpture garden of found objects. I have begun to realize that this neighborhood embodies a type of living that so many Americans think is dead, especially inside a city. The people of Candler Park/Lake Claire have managed to maintain a personal touch within a city that often seems forbidding and impersonal. It’s a place where people can feel safe using the park, and kids can still ride their bikes or skate with friends before bedtime. It makes taking a stroll the best part of everyday life.



I have taken a documentary as well as a conceptual approach to these photographs of Candler Park, hoping to emphasize my own being within the community, and to render the beauty of this unique urban neighborhood and the spirit of the people who define it.-Ansley West