JENNIFER L. MANZELLA
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Resident of Olde Kensington: Hope St Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print. 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
Point Breeze: 22nd and Dickinson Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
City Block: 2nd and Master Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¾” x 2 ¼” 2019
Bon Voyage: Olde Kensington Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¾” x 2 ¼” 2019
Northern Liberties: Second and Poplar Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
Rest Stop: Just Off the Vine Expressway Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¾” x 2 ¼” 2019
North of Lehigh: E. Sterner and Frankford Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
View from Susan’s House: Wildey and Front Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
Pile Near 2nd and Oxford Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
On the Fence: 7th and Thompson Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
Huge Lot: Second and Girard Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
Broad Street: South Philly Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
North of Girard: 7th and Jefferson Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
North Philly: View From the Train Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
Under the El: Front and Master Copper Etching/ Intaglio Print 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2019
​About: This series of small copper etchings titled City Blocks features small isolated landscapes that depict empty building lots throughout the city of Philadelphia. These prints are very small; the average size of the largest dimension is just under 3 inches. This is a two and half year project that was initiated in the fall of 2016 when I moved back to the city of Philadelphia after 12 years in Athens, GA. I started photographing and creating sketches of these wild urban spaces that exist in forgotten lots and old structures; tiny ecosystems filled with weeds, feral cats, trash and occasionally a community garden. Some of these lots had been cared for and become green spaces within these marginal neighborhoods while other lots are representative of years of neglect.  At this time I noticed that these empty green spaces were disappearing quickly as real estate prices were skyrocketing and developers were filling the spaces with high priced townhouses and commercial properties. This is a result of the rapid rate of gentrification in North and South Philadelphia neighborhoods.  This series of prints forms a portrait of the transitioning city landscape.

Broad Street Review: Unforgettable in Passing
Curatorial Essay for City Blocks at Arcadia University


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  • Home
  • Empty Lots
  • Skylines
  • Color Landscapes
  • Tall Houses & Other Non Existent Places
  • City Revealed: River, Street & Skyline
  • About
  • Contact