The Odor of Wax and Rosewood

Constructed in 1837 the now abandoned Essex County Jail is a powerfully evocative structure from both a historical and a psychological perspective. I first visited the aging structure in the winter of 2012. I was immediately stirred by the quality of the light flooding the space through barred cathedral windows. Subdued winter light beautifully rendered the rusting cells and weathered surfaces as I traced its path throughout the interior.

In May of 2015 I began shooting a project entailed “The Odor of Wax and Rosewood”. With this project I introduced nudes into this interior landscape; the austere summer light juxtaposed the softly shaded interior, affording pronounced contrast that emphasized this asymmetry. Textures and architectural details provided a layered backdrop for the sessions, encouraging the participants to explore and interpret the environment with their own vernacular.

Despite, or perhaps especially because of the now deteriorated interior, the Essex County Jail is redolent of its long and shadowy history, providing a compelling visual and ideological framework.