Some people may find it odd, or even unnerving, to stand in a place once filled with life and find it empty, such as a run-down building or a deserted house.
Photographer James Mattiazzo, however, experiences things differently.
“For me, it’s relaxing. It’s how I get out of my head,” he said.
He was one of a handful of artists whose work is featured in NOTL Contemporary’s latest exhibition at Ironwood Cider House, which invites people to see beauty hiding in decay, with abandoned spaces turned into works of art.
The show, called ENTROPY, gathered urban photographers and urban explorers from Niagara and beyond who capture the forgotten corners of cities and give artgoers a look at worlds they rarely see.
Mattiazzo, who’s one of the organizers, captures the quiet stillness of forgotten buildings.
“When I first started exploring, I was doing outreach with homeless people. Nobody wanted to go into those buildings, so I did — and I started taking pictures. That’s what pulled me into this whole community,” he said.
Mattiazzo, who runs the Antidote Apothecary candy store in St. Catharines, said exploring forgotten places brings him peace.
His portraits and abandoned-building shots filled much of the gallery’s main floor, sharing space with pieces from artists across Canada, the United States and overseas.
“I like bringing subjects into forgotten places and showing a bit of hidden history. There’s a lot of beauty in decay if you take the time to see it,” said portrait photographer Grant Guillemette of Welland.
One of Montreal artist Guillaume Fugère’s most striking photos was a drone shot of a Second World War bomber plane crash site in a wooded area of British Columbia, where drones typically aren’t permitted.
“It was a no-fly zone, but I got lucky. I think I’m the only person to have a drone shot of that site,” said Fugère.
In a side room in Ironwood, photographer Dave Conlon built an immersive installation using objects recovered from an abandoned home once owned by a woman who died five years ago, leaving behind rooms filled with her belongings.
Conlon said he wanted to give visitors the chance to safely feel the thrill and curiosity of exploring a place most would never dare to enter.
“I wanted people to feel what it’s like to step into one of these places — the smell, the atmosphere, the stories left behind.”
For organizer Marinko Jareb, the evening was another milestone for NOTL Contemporary, which has hosted several shows inside Ironwood over the past year.
“At this point, it’s a labour of love. We’ve started applying for funding and stuff, but for now, we just do it because we believe in it,” said Jareb.
He hopes the gallery’s growth will continue with more events and greater local participation.
andrew@niagaranow.com
