Binghamton Photo & The Bundy Museum Presents:

The Vacant Society
Photography by Kaitlyn Hession

First Friday Closing Reception April 1st, 2022
6:00pm – 9:00pm

Exhibition on display from 3.4.22 - 5.1.22
Located in the Binghamton Photo first floor gallery
32 Cedar St. (Adjacent to the Bundy Museum)
Admission to art gallery is always free.
Tuesday - Saturday 11am-5pm

• No RSVP is required for the First Friday event

Watch a virtual tour of the gallery below, or in the videos section at Facebook.com/bundymuseum and The Bundy Museum YouTube channel.

For regular visiting hours, walk-ins are welcome, however, booking a reservation online is recommended. Upon arriving, please check in at our visitor’s center at
133 Main St., Binghamton NY.

Artist Statement by Kaitlyn Hession:

Around the country there are tens of thousands of structures that have remained abandoned in their original space for decades. Some corporations or independent owners have once bought the structure to either try to revive the business that had been there long ago or want to tear it down to build something new. Most of the time, however, these plans don’t happen and the vacant structure remains. After several years of not being maintained, the structure will start to crumble and become another victim of demolition by neglect.

Not many people may think about this, but some of these long-forgotten places might have a long history hidden inside of it. The stories behind these relics may only span a few decades while others could have lasted over a hundred years. Maybe you or someone you know have been to some of these places before in the past. No matter how long it was around for, it’s important to remember the structure of what it once was instead of thinking about how it looks currently.

The purpose of The Vacant Society isn’t to mourn the loss of these places that may have been part of our lives at one point in time. It’s about reconnecting with them through old photos and the stories behind it that made it become so significant.

The structures that are displayed here are some of my favorite places that I’ve visited throughout the years. Some of these places were demolished long ago while others are still at risk. If you’re curious about it, I’ve provided a short history about each place near the photographs of what they look like today.

Artist Bio: Kaitlyn Hession

Kaitlyn Hession is a photographer who has worked with many different fields of photography ranging from portraiture and landscapes to photojournalism and film.

One of her notable projects is called The Vacant Society where she researches abandoned places she’s been to for the sake of learning more about the place that was once there. Her goal with this project is to not only inform others about the historical significance behind these long-forgotten places, but also memorialize them through old photos and the stories that people tell about them for years to come. Kaitlyn first thought of the idea after her visit to the once famous Grossinger’s Resort, a place that was loved by many only to be abandoned for over 30 years until it was torn down in 2018. Even though she never experienced the vacation spot while it was still active, the memories people shared about it was enough to make her fall in love with the place despite it closing years ago.

Kaitlyn Hession received her Associates of Science from Tompkins Cortland Community College where she majored in Photography. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in New Communication Media from the State University of New York at Cortland. During her time at these institutions, Hession’s work was displayed in the colleges’ art galleries and in a local media outlet where she interned as a journalist.

Art Exhibit Virtual Tour:
The Vacant Society Photography by Kaitlyn Hession

Feel free to direct any feedback by contacting us.

The Bundy Museum of History & Art

129 Main St. Binghamton, NY 13905

(607) 772-9179 - info@bundymuseum.org