Binghamton Photo & The Bundy Museum Presents
The Vacant Society: The Continuous Journey
Photography by Kaitlyn Hession
First Friday Closing Reception Nov. 3rd, 2023
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Exhibition on display from 10.6.23 - 11.28.23
Located in the Binghamton Photo first-floor gallery
32 Cedar St. (adjacent to the Bundy Museum)
Admission to the art gallery is always free.
Tuesday - Saturday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
No RSVP is required for the First Friday event
binghamtonphotodarkroom@gmail.com
Ph: 607.772.9179 ext.102
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.
First Friday Online Gallery Exhibit
To view the First Friday Online Gallery exhibition, please click the button below.
Watch a virtual tour of the gallery below or in the videos section at Facebook.com/bundymuseum and The Bundy Museum YouTube channel.
Artist Statement:
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.
This is the second time I’ve hosted a gallery for The Vacant Society. Unlike the photographs I had on display before, a majority of these are more local to the Binghamton area. Many of those who are from the Southern Tier may recognize some of these places as they were once notable landmarks in people’s everyday lives. I’ve also included some places I’ve explored in the past and may include newer additions to the exhibit within the coming month. A brief history of each place will be displayed alongside the photos that come from it.
Artist Bio:
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 for 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.
To view a virtual tour of Kaitlyn’s previous exhibit, The Vacant Society: Photography by Kaitlyn Hession, visit the webpage below.
Art Exhibit Virtual Tour:
The Vacant Society: The Continuous Journey - Photography by Kaitlyn Hession
Feel free to direct any feedback by contacting us.
The First Friday Art Walk Virtual Gallery Shows at The Bundy Museum are made possible by a grant from The Harriet Ford Dickenson Fund of the Community Foundation for South Central New York.
Support Provided by the General Operations Support Grant from the United Cultural Fund, a program of the Broome County Arts Council.
The Bundy Museum of History & Art
129 Main St. Binghamton, NY 13905