Vacant Visions

“Vacant Visions" is a photography project exploring the silent decay of Phoenix's unused retail and commercial spaces. Through black-and-white Mordançaged darkroom prints, it captures the effects of economic shifts, the pandemic, and landlords seeking the perfect tenant while examining the tension between revitalization and decay, gentrification and preservation.

Each photograph in "Vacant Visions" was shot on medium format Black and White Film, hand-developed, and printed via traditional Silver Gelatin darkroom printing. The print was then processed via the Mordançage process. This process alters and degrades a Silver Gelatin print using a chemical solution of hydrogen peroxide, copper chloride, and acetic acid. This solution softens and lifts the gelatin layer in the darker areas of the print, allowing manipulation to create unique textures, veils, and inversion effects.

"Vacant Visions," using the Mordançage technique to symbolize potential decay, invites viewers to reflect on the impact of urban development and the roles of landlords and tenants in shaping Phoenix's future. The images comment on the unintended consequences of neglect and emphasize the need for thoughtful urban planning. The project also questions whether landlords should rent to artists and creatives who, despite lower rents, can revitalize spaces, making them more attractive for future growth and higher-paying businesses.

By capturing spaces on the verge of transformation or deterioration, this project asks: What kind of city do we want, and who has the power to shape it? The open-ended question encourages dialogue and action within the community, challenging viewers to consider the balance between fostering community development and eventual gentrification.

Vacant Visions
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