Nov. 1, 2008  (Winchester, MA)  John Wesley Mannion, who uses various photographic approaches to explore the psychological affects of space, finds the perfect subject in the abandoned rooms of the Pennhurst State School and Hospital.

An exhibit of his images, State School, is featured in The Atelier Gallery at the Griffin November 13 through January 11.

Pennhurst was opened in a small Pennsylvania town in 1908 to care for adults and children with mental and physical disabilities. Years later, overcrowding and deplorable conditions prompted a class-action suit. In 1977, the institution was found guilty of violating patients’ constitutional rights. After a de-institutionalization process to relocate the patients, the facility was closed in 1987.

Mannion says the project “conveys the subtle texture and beauty of decay, while simultaneously confronting us with the reality of this time in our history.’’

He adds, “At first glance these images are beautiful and rich with subtle color and streaming sunlight, not unlike the interiors published in design magazines. On closer inspection, the images give way to a chaotic reality that looks neglected and ruinous.’’

Mannion is Digital Imaging Manager at Light Work/Community Darkrooms in Syracuse, NY, and teaches digital photography at Syracuse University. He has an MFA in photography and has exhibited nationally and internationally.