This proposal is for the creation a book of black and white photographs made in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas combining portrait, social landscape and private landscape subjects made from the 1980's to the present. My current working title for the book is Oak Cliff, Portrait of a Dallas Neighborhood. 

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I have lived and photographed extensively in this community using a documentary style with various formats of cameras since 1983 and have created an extensive body of work which is now housed in the Special Collections at the University of North Texas. Three one-year sabbaticals from Tarrant County College were dedicated to making photographs in Oak Cliff.

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My approach is straightforward and my photographs embrace the wide variety of economic, racial and social contrasts in this unique community. The book would be of interest to anyone interested in site-specific photographic projects, portrait and architectural photography, Dallas history and the evolving multi-ethnic landscape and flavor of Oak Cliff.  

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Opening with a preface, written by me, provides biography and discussion of both my goals as well as my photographic approach. A forward by award winning journalist and novelist Bill Minutaglio offers a historical background to Oak Cliff and provide insights into its unique character and significance.  An introduction by John Rohrbach, Chief Curator of Photographs at the Amon Carter Museum introduces the reader to the aesthetic grounding of the work and prepares the viewer what to expect. John will also assist in editing the  photographs for the book. An essay by Christopher Blay of the Houston Museum African American Art offers other contextual information based on the aesthetic, social and cultural issues explored in the subject matter. Several subject categories include: Portrait and Personal/Social Landscapes as well as portraits.  Quotes from Oak Cliff residents accompany select photographs provide more context.

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Below is selection of photographs and more photographs from the series can be seen here.

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