public Opening Reception:

Sunday, June 10th, 2-6pm

About the exhibition:

The focus of Bloom’s art for the past 12 years has been taking self-portraits in abandoned spaces. Broadly, the work is about aging as a woman in a society that emphasizes looks over substance, in a culture of double standards. In Bloom’s words, “more pointedly, these pieces explore my personal struggles with middle age, depression, and what I have come to call a 'life unexpected.'
There is a catharsis for me when I am skulking through an abandoned building, looking for the light and setting up my shots. I feel a kinship with these spaces and find it comforting to witness the earth reclaiming her space. The fact that we are here temporarily brings me peace more than it brings me anxiety. The series began when I was 37 years old and beginning to feel a subtle sense of loss for time since passed. In the twelve years since I began, there has been the newlywed stage and then end of a marriage, a teenage girl raised, hope restored and hope lost, the greatest publicity of my career so far, and the absolute lowest I've ever been with depression. It has always been — and still is — my intention to continue this body of work into old age. This retrospective only shows a beginning.”

This exhibition is made possible in part by the Joseph Robert Foundation.

About the Artist:

Sarah R. Bloom is an artist and photographer working in the Philadelphia region. Her photos have been featured in The Daily Mail, Philadelphia Magazine, and The Huffington Post. Philadelphia Magazine named her Best Visual Artist in their 2015 Best of Philly Issue. In October 2015, Instagram flew her out to L.A. to take part in a pop-up art exhibit celebrating inspiring women and was featured in The Huffington Post's “28 Badass Women to Follow on Instagram.” Sarah is the former President and current member of the Philadelphia Chapter Women's Caucus for Art as well as a current member of InLiquid, Da Vinci Art Alliance, and The Philadelphia Photo Arts Center.

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