These buildings are made of brick (most of them) - a material that is sufficient by itself to enclose a building against the elements. But every one of them has been given a coat of paint. The paint might have been applied to seal failing mortar joints, but on these buildings it was more likely done to "dress them up". And many of them are painted not so much to beautify them as to make them go away.

This series has evolved into an expression of my frustration with current economics, the “unemployment thing” in particular. They didn't start out that way, but as I scoured the city looking for appropriate buildings, I started to feel some sympathy for these places, especially those with the windows painted over. I was laid-off in May 2009 after a 25 year career as an architect and have at times felt like I had been painted over, windows and all.

12 x 18" injet prints
editions of four