The Lens

The seventy-year-old slides of Cincinnati amateur photographer Alice Cusson are a deeply moving document of Cincinnati's past. Large-scale reproductions of Cusson's grainy slides, recently discovered by UC student and curator Jack Hall, make up the core of this exhibition. Matched with modern-day photos and compelling sound clips (that you can explore with your phone), these images tell a moving story about change over time in the Queen City.

The exhibition focuses specifically on Cincinnati—Alice Cusson's world. Most of Cusson's photos document Cincinnati landmarks, including The Terrace Plaza, The Hotel Alms, St. Francis DeSales Church, Memorial Hall, Ivorydale, and The... Continue reading Recording Cincinnati: The Queen City In The Eyes Of Alice Cusson

Researching the effects of climate change on animal species, i.imagine teen photography students of Gray Middle School, Holmes Middle School, and Ryle High School were led by Zoo photographer Lisa Hubbard on an up-close and personal journey to meet and photograph endangered species of the Cincinnati Zoo. Focused on a mission of giving voice to the voiceless, students created photographs intended to emotionally connect viewers with animals, inspiring humans to apply their skills and knowledge to being part of the solution of climate change. This collection of large-format prints spans the entire outdoor walkway of the Zoo's former Polar Bear exhibit. By... Continue reading Wildest Dream

Once among the most polluted bodies of water in the United States, Mill Creek has drastically shifted from the past 50 years of conservation efforts. The creek was originally named Makateewa by the Shawnee of this area meaning “black,” most likely due to the coloration of leaves that would naturally fall and dye the water darker. At the turn of the last century the water ran black again due to industrial waste from meatpacking, tanning, and sewage. There was never a mill to speak of on the creek, but was named that way to attract development. It did:... Continue reading Makateewa Dreamscape

The Perspectives is a photo-based, mixed-media mural celebrating Black iconography, culture, expression, and joy. Produced in partnership by Mz. Icar, an anonymous, interdisciplinary art collective, and ArtWorks, this public artwork is informed by the collection of oral histories and archival photographic records from residents of Walnut Hills, a Cincinnati neighborhood with an incredibly rich Black history. The creation process includes neighborhood engagement and the employment of four local Youth Apprentices under the mentorship of both Mz. Icar and an ArtWorks Teaching Artist. This highly collaborative mural is a powerful record of Black voices and histories, past and present.... Continue reading Perspectives

Yonder is a multi-stage, educational, photo-documentation program engaging the public (regional, national, and international) in a collaborative chronicling of the many ways horizons determine and evolve our quotidian understanding of the world. Beginning in August of 2022, and in support of Manifest Drawing Center’s photographic educational mission, the project includes two free workshops, two free public demonstrations on the conversion of digital photographs into analog black-and-white darkroom prints, a public multi-week showcase of the resultant works, and a printed book of the final, edited photographs. Continue reading Yonder