Memorial Piano – Gary, Indiana

Long Exposure Photograph of the old Gary Public Schools Memorial Auditorium, built in 1927 to honor local veterans who died in WWI. For 70 years it was used for events like graduations and music festivals (yes, the Jackson 5 did perform here!) Three years after being added to the National Register of Historic Places, the Great Gary Arson of 1997 destroyed nearly the entirety of the massive building which could house an audience of 5000. This lone brick section continues to stand strong despite the elements and the explorers. There’s no roof, some stairways have crumbled to rubble, but the bones remain waiting for someone to come along and play a little tune. This pink piano is currently home to the mice and centipedes we watched skitter across the top as we illuminated it with a green flashlight. The rest of the brick structure is lit with blue, red, and yellow that I swapped on the Protomachines flashlight while running from corner to corner in the dark, trying not to fall into giant holes in the ground. Word on the street is this place is doomed for demo, but considering its history, hopefully sections can be re-purposed.

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8″ x 10″ Print will have some cropping. | Print frame not included