In his newly released book, Abandoned America: Dismantling the Dream, Matthew Christopher continues his tour of the quiet catastrophes dotting American cities, examining the losses and failures that led these ruins to become forsaken by communities that once embraced them. In a dialogue with NBC network news editor, Jane Derenowski, Christopher explores his efforts to capture photographically the country's worst cases of fatal neglect and abuse, an exploration that asks the fundamental questions of what leads us to leave places behind and what are the consequences of doing so. 

A book signing will follow the discussion.

Bio

Matthew Christopher’s journey to document abandoned sites began a decade ago while researching the decline of the state hospital system. Realizing that words alone could not adequately convey the harsh realities of institutional care, Christopher embarked on a journey to visit and photograph the crumbling state schools and asylums in our midst. Ten years later, Christopher’s focus had broadened to include the ruins of American infrastructure, industry, churches, schools, theaters, hospitals, prisons, resorts and hotels as realized in his best-selling book, Abandoned America: the Age of Consequences (Jonglez Publishing) and his 2016 follow up, Abandoned America: Dismantling the Dream (Carpet Bombing Culture). From Taunton State Hospital in Massachusetts to the US Air Force’s aircraft boneyard in Tucson, Arizona, Christopher’s extensive collection of derelict sites is featured on his website Abandoned America. His work has garnered international attention and he is considered a leading expert on urban blight and the efforts to preserve America’s endangered architectural history.

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