Introducing A Path of Impermanence: life along a highway expansion ✰
a photo exhibit BY LIZ MOSKOWITZ
Come through on Saturday, October 19 for the opening reception of A Path of Impermanence, an archival photo exhibit documenting the impact of the I-35 Capital Express Project, by Future Front Resident Artist Liz Moskowitz.
The exhibit will feature 25 archival photographic prints, interview quotes, and six site-specific artifacts selected by people affected by the I-35 expansion.
RSVPs are encouraged. Donations suggested.
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ABOUT THE SHOW
“A PATH OF IMPERMANENCE” will be on view at the Future Front House from October 19 to October 29.
A Path of Impermanence: life along a highway expansion is a photo exhibit by Liz Moskowitz including archival photographic prints, interview quotes, and site-specific artifacts. Moskowitz’s images of the people, places, and landscapes impacted by an impending large-scale highway expansion speak to broader themes of displacement, community, memory, and change. All images were shot on 120mm film with a medium format camera.
The I-35 Capital Express Central Project is currently underway, the beginning of potentially a decade of construction to widen the main highway that runs through Austin, Texas. It is the largest expansion of I-35 in Austin’s history and more than 50 businesses are being displaced. During times of momentous change, it can feel like the future is happening now and the present is already a memory. How can we collectively remember what will soon no longer be here?
“A Path of Impermanence was inspired by local news articles, archival research, and daily drives up and down the I-35 frontage road between Manor Road and 51st Street. Many of the small businesses found here have been a part of Austin’s cultural landscape for years. A Chinese teahouse, a beloved local newspaper, a family-owned Mexican restaurant, a crystal and rock shop, a vampire goth lounge, a Spanish-immersion daycare— each of these establishments and more contain their own unique histories and communities, and as I discovered, are often safe third spaces for their patrons.
For half a year, I photographed and interviewed people I met along the highway, both planned and spontaneous encounters and images, with the objective to honor the present through photographic documentation and interviews with business owners, managers, employees, and customers.
Some businesses have already relocated and their buildings have been demolished, some don’t have to move but are unsure how the construction will affect their livelihood, some still wait in limbo. Hope, fear, sadness, excitement—the sentiments that were shared with me varied widely, as do each of the businesses’ future plans and trajectories.
The opening night show at Future Front on October 19 from 6-9 p.m. will include a Q&A with select individuals featured in the project and an interactive element where attendees can reflect on their own experiences with the respective businesses, write down their recollections on blank note cards, and put them in memory boxes placed around the gallery.
These audience contributions, along with the other project materials, will ultimately become a part of the photographic catalog I design and donate to the Austin History Center. In the beginning of embarking on this project, I looked through visual records of I-35’s development over the past century, and the absence of people was pronounced. Mainly, I noticed the lack of portraits and testimonies of the very individuals experiencing and enduring a change in their lives outside of their control. The very communities and identities that have been traditionally neglected and historically underrepresented in archival spaces.
May my attempts produce a thoughtful and nuanced account of what will soon not exist in its current form. May it be accessible to all who wish to know more about Austin and enhance our understanding of our city’s ever-evolving story.”
A Path of Impermanence was funded in part by a grant from Preservation Austin in support of its mission to empower Austinites to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and meaningful community culture through preservation. This project is supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department. Additional support comes from Future Front Texas and the Summerlee Foundation.
About the Artist
Liz Moskowitz is a photographer and filmmaker (currently in Future Front’s Artist-In-Residence program). Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York she has lived in Austin, Texas for almost 20 years. Much of her work stems from a compassionate attempt to understand and honor the dignity and nuances of people, places, and issues. She approaches each individual and community that she photographs with intentionality and an open-mind. Her photo projects oftentimes include direct quotes from participants as a way to make the photographic process more collaborative and inclusive. Broadly speaking, topics her work has explored include access to mental health services in rural areas, criminal justice reform, efforts to mitigate climate change, reproductive health care, and the cultural consequences of urban development.
The majority of her clients are nonprofit organizations and editorial publications including The New York Times, The Texas Tribune, NBC News, and Oxford American. She is a member of Women Photograph and the recipient of grants from The Dallas Museum of Art, the Henry Luce Foundation, Austin Film Society, and Preservation Austin. Her short documentary films have been screened at SXSW Faces of Austin, AFS ShortCase, Woodstock Film Festival, AFI Fest, Dallas International Film Festival, Sedona International Film Festival, The Front Festival and broadcast throughout Texas as part of the PBS “Frame of Mind” series. Several of her photos were acquired by the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University. She holds a BA in Photojournalism from the University of Texas at Austin.
HOW TO ATTEND
Tickets are free* to register, with donations encouraged.
Name your own ticket price TO DONATE:
*If you are a Future Front member, please provide your name at the door for entry or head to members.futurefronttexas.org or futurefrontmembership.squarespace.com to access member rates for event tickets, applications & other perks at anytime.
PREPARE YOUR VISIT TO THE FUTURE FRONT HOUSE
The Future Front House is located at 1900 E. 12th Street.
WHERE TO PARK: The Future Front House has a large paid parking lot across the street and is directly accessible by bus line. There’s also free parking up and down the street and in surrounding neighborhoods. Carpool, if you can!
WHAT TO DO: The Future Front House is located within the historic East 12th Street District, which is home to many other creative spaces and businesses, as well as organizations like Six Square. Explore the District while you’re around.
AVAILABLE LANGUAGES — ASL interpreters can be provided upon request. Si necesita traducción al español para participar en este evento, envíenos un correo electrónico a hello@futurefronttexas.org.
OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY GUIDELINES —
All Future Front staff, volunteers and guests will be required to practice mutual respect, as well as demonstrate an alignment with Future Front’s code of conduct and values.
Capacity is limited to reduce crowding of any kind and all events will be held in primarily outdoor and open-air spaces or have access to proper ventilations and well-maintained A/C systems.
At Future Front events, all guests are expected to follow Austin-local health and safety guidelines for gatherings, as well as practice consideration with the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and any other legal, mind-altering or dangerous substances and objects. This includes:
As Future Front strives to be a good neighbor, we also discourage the use of tobacco products on the property of nearby businesses and residences, to improve air quality, throughout our events.
Tobacco use and electronic smoking device use are not permitted at any time within Future Front properties and event spaces at least 15 ft from entrances, exits, operational windows, or ventilation system intake vents.
Littering of tobacco-related products on the grounds or parking lots is also prohibited.
Concealed or open weapons and firearms (including handguns) are not allowed at any Future Front venues.
GOT QUESTIONS? Shoot us a note at hello@futurefronttexas.org. We're happy to help and will get back to you!
BEHIND FUTURE FRONT
HOMEGROWN IN AUSTIN, FUTURE FRONT IS AN AWARD-WINNING CULTURE SPACE AND EXHIBITION SERIES—WITH WOMEN AND LGBTQ+ CREATIVES AT THE FRONT.
As an arts and culture nonprofit, we produce two community-led exhibitions, The Front Market and The Front Festival. Beyond our flagship showcases, we host year-round shows and workshops at our creative space in historic East Austin, welcoming 20,000+ visitors per year.
Through these programs and collaborations, we invite the public to dream of a future where creativity, curiosity and intersectional design thrive in Texas—where we see ourselves and our cultures reflected in our communities. Learn more at futurefronttexas.org.
THE FUTURE FRONT HOUSE IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY The City of Austin Economic Development Department, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Texas Commission on the Arts, Waymo, The LINE Hotel Austin, Pease Park Conservancy, the Red River Cultural District, Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation, Topo Chico, as well as Future Front’s donors and members. THANK YOU!