UW News

July 23, 2009

‘You Are Here’ presents then-and-now views at campus AYPE sites

Can’t get enough of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition?


Well, here’s more: You Are Here, an exhibit by the AYP Rephotographic Project is on display at Architecture Hall through Sept 25.


There are 47 pairs of photos (or more) of the same AYP-UW sites taken about 100 years apart in 1908-1909 and 2007-2009. (See our story about the project here.) The exhibit is in a room that was actually photographed in 1909 when it was “Gallery G” at the Palace of Fine Arts. Today it is Room 220 of Architecture Hall, a studio classroom for graduate architecture students.


Normally the room would be empty in summer, but this summer it is a gallery again for the AYP Rephotographic Project. Indeed the very first picture you see is a “Then & Now” pair of the room you’re standing in.


The AYP Rephotographic Project is the product of a large format photography class taught at the UW Department from 2007 to 2009. The project is headed by photographer John Stamets.


“Be forewarned that this a ‘bookish’ exhibit produced on low-budget plotter paper,” Stamets said, “but that lack of flash is hopefully more than compensated for by the interesting content and text.”


In addition to site photos, there are maps, including graphic comparisons of the 1909 AYP maps with the UW ground plan today.


The exhibit is free. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. It’s also open on some weekends by appointment. Contact Stamets (stamets@uw.edu) to arrange a time.