Book Review: Beauty in Detritus by Joel Capolongo

Central New York photographer Joel Capolongo has been capturing images of urban decay in and around Syracuse for several years. His modus operandi is to serendipitously find, and then enter, a deserted building and take photographs. He leaves a small footprint- not breaking into or otherwise damaging the building. What he finds and documents is a history of our throwaway industrial culture, the remains of businesses that closed either due to bankruptcy, or chose to abandon their factories and employees to create products in cheaper climes.

Capolongo recently lectured about his photographs at Metropolis Bookstore in North Syracuse. He and his book designer, Kimberly D. Bolen, presented a slide show of some of the best photographs he’s taken in the Upstate New York area. He and Bolen designed a limited edition handmade artist’s book of some of the photographs, entitled Beauty in Detritus.

The front and back covers of the books are made from found rusted metal pieces covered with a varnish to keep the rust off the reader’s hands. The binding is a piece of burlap sack cloth that the artist found in one of the buildings. The photos are printed on a thick paper. They are centered on another found object, pieces of a crumpled map.

Many of the photos, such as “Auto Parts Warehouse, April 2006” and “Stamp Building, April 2005,” capture the textural elements of the scene: the paint-peeled and water-stained walls, the gravel-littered floors. The aesthetic is similar to Anselm Kiefer's painted works. Other photos, such as “Boorum & Pease Manufacturing Plant, August 2006” and “Syracuse Tank Manufacturing Company, April 2005” reflect Copolongo’s skill at composition. There is a balance to these photos that reflect the quiet abandonment of the buildings. The viewer wonders, when observing the current state of decay of these machines and buildings: did anyone actually work here? Where are they now?

My favorite photograph is one of the two “Marsellus Casket Company, March 2006.” The photographer stood at one end of a hallway, windows to the right, solid wall to the left, fading orange-ish and green paint on both sides. The ceiling of the hallway is arched upward. It looks like the inside of a casket…

The photos are each atmospheric and depict decay, yet are quite beautiful. While greys and rusts abound, the viewer is often surprised with a hint of color, such as the red paint in “Syracuse Tank Manufacturing Company, April 2005” or a turquoise blue machine in the background of “Syracuse Tank Manufacturing Company, April 2006.

This self-taught photographer has a strong eye. Capolongo’s work can be viewed at his website. You can check out book designer Bolen’s work at Bolen's site.

Article Author: gette

Georgette Nicolaides is a writer, musician, and visual artist. She plays noisy violin in the ambient/psychedelic project Atlantic Drone and is currently reading about eight different books. &#@%$ ADD! …

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