money money, 1998-2004

The lack of it. The desire to have it. How it works in our society. Wanting to put these thoughts into a visual language, I began to look at the disappearing neighborhood bank with its traditional neoclassical architecture, the corner stone of every small town’s Main Street. The inherent design of these buildings is meant to represent strength, safety and trust. Traits that do not readily come to mind when thinking of today’s banking system.

The Bank Portraits became a way for me to talk about Banking’s role within the public interest and its move into self interest. The gelatin silver photographs are hand printed in a way that allows the images to be wispy and ephemeral. Like graphite powder, they can be blown off the page expressing how elusive power is and how few individuals are allowed to harness it.

Jack plays with the old adage “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Taking its size and design from US Currency and its imagery from Mother Nature, Jack churns out easy cash to solve all the world’s problems.

“This prophet comes down from the mountain and says ` Listen my children, because I, I will lead you to the land of milk and money but . . . I can only take a few.’ "

Postscript: With the crash of 2008, Financial Institutions have had to face their role in the debacle still unfolding on the global stage. To date few have been held accountable or taken responsibility.