East Liverpool, Ohio 1986

Andrew Borowiec made this gelatin silver print, East Liverpool, Ohio, using a traditional photographic process. The stark black and white image captures a view of the backyard between two buildings, with old furniture and what looks like a dog house. In the background is a tall, weathered building. Borowiec meticulously transforms everyday scenes, inviting us to consider the social landscape. The choice of black and white film itself is a conscious one. It evokes the history of documentary photography and the ways in which this process has been used to chronicle social issues. By emphasizing the textures and tones of the built environment, Borowiec draws attention to the built environment and its history. The very act of photographing these buildings becomes a form of preservation. By engaging with traditional techniques, Borowiec infuses his work with a sense of timelessness, challenging the conventional boundaries between art and documentation.