Change is underway in Braddock as groups working within and with the community bring renewed energy to a town that many wrote off. Artists, social entrepreneurs, community organizers, urban homesteaders and others with a pioneering spirit are inspired by the town’s potential for grassroots urban renewal and are using the inherent energy in Braddock to fuel their creativity. It is with this spirit that Obscuræ views the maligned town – turning a photographic eye towards the borough’s oft-overlooked beauty amidst the former grandeur and “urban blight” that Braddock has come to represent for many in the Pittsburgh area.
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New to Obscurae and wondering what this site is all about? Back in 2008 two Braddock residents had a crazy idea about collecting photographs of Braddock from a wide variety of photographers and displaying them in frames built from reclaimed materials in the local gallery. We chose obscure details as the theme, and so Obscurae was born.
Our initial goal was to have the first show in mid-December, 2008. But the gallery space was available December 5th and 6th, and we were encouraged to push it up to tap into the other events in Braddock scheduled for that weekend. We decided to take on the challenge: Six weeks to design and build 100 frames, contact photographers, collect or print the donated pieces, match each piece to a unique frame, mat and mount them, prepare them to hang, set up the gallery, get up the show, and throw a party. No problem!
It sounds like a reality tv show. And like one we were faced with additional challenges, both related to the show and personal, thrown our way throughout the process. There were sleepless nights, early mornings, and many pots of coffee. Yet somehow we enjoyed it so much we decided to do it all again in 2009.
In addition to art lottery shows, Obscurae offers the chance to purchase frames and prints from both exhibitions in the online gallery. We’ve also had booths at SouthSide Works Exposed and the I Made It! Market. Proceeds from the gallery support grassroots projects in Braddock as well as the photographers. Read more about one local project funded from online gallery sales: Delicious Donations.
Although we are not planning a show for 2010, we are still offering prints through this site and in our Etsy shop. We’d also love to hear from you if you are a photographer, collector, Braddock enthusiast ... this project is a labor of love. We’ve met many great people and strengthened our printing, matting, and framing techniques in the mad dashes to make the shows as fun and enlightening as possible. If you have ideas on where you’d like to see Obscurae prints, how we can help other photographers in Braddock, or just want to get in touch—please do! Contact information is on the About Us page.
