S E P T E M B E R ' SF E A T U R E DA R T I S T - Dylan Vitone

Holding a MFA in photography from Massachusetts College of Art (2003) and BA in Photocommunications from St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas (2001), Vitone has been documenting the South Boston area for two years. After learning that in 1994 this community reportedly had the poorest concentration of Caucasians in America, he embarked on a fascinating documentary project. Whether it is an abandoned boat in the water accompanied by a parade of swans or Irish immigrants turning an old tripledecker into new condominiums, Vitone approaches each subject with sensitivity, recording both the highs and the lows. With increased gentrification, South Boston is rapidly changing, making Vitone's undertaking all the more timely and essential.

Using a large format camera, Vitone makes up to 8 exposures, which when stitched together in Photoshop (leaving the seams and shifts in perspective purposely intact), yield an almost complete 360 view. The end results are lush large-scale ink jet prints, printed on an Epson 9600 and mounted to aluminum. As one looks from left to right and back, the small fissures become apparent, but not distracting, emphasizing the actual experience of digesting an event or a landscape over a period of time. Because of the nature of how the photographs are taken, viewers are thus transplanted into the space, with the photographer and his chosen location serving as the fulcrum. People usually anchor either side of Vitone's revised panoramas; their confronting glances engage and invite one into the scene.

Click here for Dylan's project web site.

PAST PRESENTATIONS

Matthew Gamber
August 2004

Mariliana Arvelo
 July 2004

Ken Richardson
June 2004

Julie Melton
May 2004

Marlo Marrero
April 2004

Erik Gould
March 2004

Mori Insinger
February 2004

Jen Kodis
January 2004

Amber Davis
December 2003

Paul Taggart
November 2003

Marla Sweeney
October 2003

Dylan Vitone
September 2003

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about the Northeast Exposure.



C U R R E N TP R O J E C T - Photographs from South Boston

 In October 1994 U.S. News & World Report revealed that South Boston, Massachusetts had the highest concentration of impoverished whites in America. Littered with disturbing statistics, the article reported that in certain sections of this neighborhood three-fourths of the families were without fathers and eighty-five percent of the people were collecting welfare.

As I researched the area's history, I found that this closed, blue-collar community still lived in the shadows of the 1970s racial riots it endured when the United States government tried to integrate South Boston schools. South Boston was labeled a place that did not take well to outsiders. It seemed that politicians did not want to be connected to South Boston and the racist overtones that came with it. It was almost as if they ignored growing problems the community faced. With this in mind, I started my two-year project of documenting this community.

As I started photographing I found that in its time in exile, South Boston developed its own identity. The individuals living there turned to the community itself for strength. In the process they developed a sense of identity and pride that seems to be their own. My work is about recording this insular community and all of its idiosyncrasies.

-Dylan Vitone

click the image for a larger version

Dylan Vitone, Easy Dunker, 12 x 70 Inch UltraChrome Ink Jet print, Courtesy the artist.


Dylan Vitone, Boxing at Walsh Gym, 12 x 75 Inch UltraChrome Ink Jet print, Courtesy the artist.


Dylan Vitone, Condominium Construction, 12 x 75 Inch UltraChrome Ink Jet print, Courtesy the artist.


Dylan Vitone, Fire at O and 3rd, 12 x 82 Inch UltraChrome Ink Jet print, Courtesy the artist.


Dylan Vitone, Pick-up basketball game, 12 x 59 Inch UltraChrome Ink Jet print, Courtesy the artist.