Ghost Stories
Photo Collages Inspired by the Historic Buildings of Las Vegas, NM
Photo Collages Inspired by the Historic Buildings of Las Vegas, NM
Since moving to Las Vegas I have been captivated by the patterns and colors of the old painted
advertisements on the walls of buildings around town. These "ghost signs" are living history; their
superimposed and peeling layers of paint afford glimpses into the multi-layered past of a community
transformed by changing times. I am likewise affected by the power of old buildings as depositories
of memories, bearing the imprint of past lives. I combine photographs of old abandoned buildings
with vintage portraits and other found images, which are altered and reassembled digitally to create
an alternate spatial and emotional reality. My collages tell stories of fictional ghosts evoked by the
historical context and ambiance of the buildings. They don't portray actual people or events, but
are emblematic of passing eras in the history of Las Vegas as reflected in the buildings they inhabit...
advertisements on the walls of buildings around town. These "ghost signs" are living history; their
superimposed and peeling layers of paint afford glimpses into the multi-layered past of a community
transformed by changing times. I am likewise affected by the power of old buildings as depositories
of memories, bearing the imprint of past lives. I combine photographs of old abandoned buildings
with vintage portraits and other found images, which are altered and reassembled digitally to create
an alternate spatial and emotional reality. My collages tell stories of fictional ghosts evoked by the
historical context and ambiance of the buildings. They don't portray actual people or events, but
are emblematic of passing eras in the history of Las Vegas as reflected in the buildings they inhabit...
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Heart on Fire
Nuestra Sra. de los Dolores
de Las Vegas was founded
in 1835 by a land grant from
the Republic of Mexico, and
soon after a church in her
name was erected on the
Plaza. Life was hard and
dangerous for early settlers,
and women were often left
to cope alone when the men
went on trading or hunting
expeditions. Fires were a
common hazard. She would
have felt a special affinity for
Our Lady of Sorrows (and
Pains) and shown her
courage and devotion in the
face of tragedy.
de Las Vegas was founded
in 1835 by a land grant from
the Republic of Mexico, and
soon after a church in her
name was erected on the
Plaza. Life was hard and
dangerous for early settlers,
and women were often left
to cope alone when the men
went on trading or hunting
expeditions. Fires were a
common hazard. She would
have felt a special affinity for
Our Lady of Sorrows (and
Pains) and shown her
courage and devotion in the
face of tragedy.
New Mexico Territory saw
the westernmost campaign
of the Civil War in 1861-62.
Confederate troops entered
Albuquerque and Santa Fe,
but eventually were forced
to retreat. The Civil War and
its aftermath disrupted many
lives and long separations
ensued. Many years would
pass with dreams deferred
before a Texas Confederate
could reunite with the New
Mexican belle who captured
his heart.
the westernmost campaign
of the Civil War in 1861-62.
Confederate troops entered
Albuquerque and Santa Fe,
but eventually were forced
to retreat. The Civil War and
its aftermath disrupted many
lives and long separations
ensued. Many years would
pass with dreams deferred
before a Texas Confederate
could reunite with the New
Mexican belle who captured
his heart.
From the Ashes
West of Eden
The railroad arrived in Las
Vegas in 1879 along with
new saloons and gambling
halls. In the late 1870's and
1880's some of the most
notorious gunfighters and
lawmen in the West made
regular visits to Las Vegas,
including Jesse James, Billy
the Kid, Pat Garrett, Doc
Holliday and Wyatt Earp.
Las Vegas also boasted a
sizeable number of home-
grown outlaws, and the
town acquired a reputation
for lawlessness and violence.
Train robberies were frequent
occurrences. We often reap
the future that was planted
during our childhood games.
Vegas in 1879 along with
new saloons and gambling
halls. In the late 1870's and
1880's some of the most
notorious gunfighters and
lawmen in the West made
regular visits to Las Vegas,
including Jesse James, Billy
the Kid, Pat Garrett, Doc
Holliday and Wyatt Earp.
Las Vegas also boasted a
sizeable number of home-
grown outlaws, and the
town acquired a reputation
for lawlessness and violence.
Train robberies were frequent
occurrences. We often reap
the future that was planted
during our childhood games.
The Fred Harvey Company
built hotels and established
the first restaurant chain in
the country, to provide
quality meals and service at
stops along the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.
The Harvey Company
recruited young women "of
good moral character" from
across the country to work
in their establishments. For
the term of their contract,
Harvey Girls agreed not to
marry and to abide by all
company rules. The Rawlins
building was the boarding
house for the Harvey Girls.
But an ill-fated affair dashed
all her dreams. She waits
by the window pining for her
faithless lover still...
built hotels and established
the first restaurant chain in
the country, to provide
quality meals and service at
stops along the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.
The Harvey Company
recruited young women "of
good moral character" from
across the country to work
in their establishments. For
the term of their contract,
Harvey Girls agreed not to
marry and to abide by all
company rules. The Rawlins
building was the boarding
house for the Harvey Girls.
But an ill-fated affair dashed
all her dreams. She waits
by the window pining for her
faithless lover still...
The Harvey Girl
In the 1910's Las Vegas
was the "Cowboy Capital"
of New Mexico due to the
many cattle ranches in the
area. In 1915 a grand
"Cowboys Reunion" took
place with many rodeos and
festivities. Among the
guests was movie star Tom
Mix who, enchanted with the
ambiance and the scenery,
decided to stay and film
many of his westerns in Las
Vegas. Those early silent
films set the standard for a
genre that would capture the
imagination of the world.
The hard reality of ranching
was not so glamorous,
however. But the lure of an
outdoor life in open spaces
attracted many a young man
to follow the Cowboy Way...
was the "Cowboy Capital"
of New Mexico due to the
many cattle ranches in the
area. In 1915 a grand
"Cowboys Reunion" took
place with many rodeos and
festivities. Among the
guests was movie star Tom
Mix who, enchanted with the
ambiance and the scenery,
decided to stay and film
many of his westerns in Las
Vegas. Those early silent
films set the standard for a
genre that would capture the
imagination of the world.
The hard reality of ranching
was not so glamorous,
however. But the lure of an
outdoor life in open spaces
attracted many a young man
to follow the Cowboy Way...
Travelin' Man
The Dust Bowl was a series
of dust storms caused by
massive drought that lasted
throughout the 1930's
causing a mass exodus from
the Oklahoma panhandle
and surrounding Great Plains
regions. Thousands of farm
families were displaced.
Loaded up with all their
belongings, they set out for
California. Many never made
it that far, but remained in
stopping places along the
way. They all moved on, but
she stayed behind..
of dust storms caused by
massive drought that lasted
throughout the 1930's
causing a mass exodus from
the Oklahoma panhandle
and surrounding Great Plains
regions. Thousands of farm
families were displaced.
Loaded up with all their
belongings, they set out for
California. Many never made
it that far, but remained in
stopping places along the
way. They all moved on, but
she stayed behind..
She Stayed Behind
The Wild One
The Three Amigos
In Their Shoes
Waiting for Word
All of the images are available with acid-free mats in 3 sizes:
12 x 18 $200 8 x 10 $100 5 x 7 $50
Boxed portfolio of eight 8 x 10 matted prints with historical notes:
$750
12 x 18 $200 8 x 10 $100 5 x 7 $50
Boxed portfolio of eight 8 x 10 matted prints with historical notes:
$750
In 1953 Marlon Brando
starred in this landmark film of
youthful rebellion and gang
violence, and the mystique of
the outlaw biker was born.
The leather- jacketed bad boy
became a staple figure of the
1950's emergent youth
culture. Though tame by
today's standards, Brando's
magnetic performance
influenced such classic films
as James Dean's Rebel
Without a Cause, and the
1969 counter-culture classic
Easy Rider. Although the
Wild One surely committed
many a nuisance in his day;
nevertheless we love him still.
starred in this landmark film of
youthful rebellion and gang
violence, and the mystique of
the outlaw biker was born.
The leather- jacketed bad boy
became a staple figure of the
1950's emergent youth
culture. Though tame by
today's standards, Brando's
magnetic performance
influenced such classic films
as James Dean's Rebel
Without a Cause, and the
1969 counter-culture classic
Easy Rider. Although the
Wild One surely committed
many a nuisance in his day;
nevertheless we love him still.
Traveling salesmen were a
fixture of American small
town life, from the 1930's
through the 1950's as
highways and motorized
transportation gave rise to
new marketing methods.
Traveling salesmen spent
most of their time on the
road, making rounds from
town to town. Most door-to-
door selling took place in the
afternoons when house-
wives were at home.
Traveling salesmen's
reputations for amorous
exploits entered popular
culture. But the rise of two
income families as more
women joined the workforce
in the 1970's deprived
salesmen of their customers
and the internet now offers
direct access to goods. By
the end of the 20th cent. the
door-to-door salesman was
a thing of the past. But
some keep coming back...
fixture of American small
town life, from the 1930's
through the 1950's as
highways and motorized
transportation gave rise to
new marketing methods.
Traveling salesmen spent
most of their time on the
road, making rounds from
town to town. Most door-to-
door selling took place in the
afternoons when house-
wives were at home.
Traveling salesmen's
reputations for amorous
exploits entered popular
culture. But the rise of two
income families as more
women joined the workforce
in the 1970's deprived
salesmen of their customers
and the internet now offers
direct access to goods. By
the end of the 20th cent. the
door-to-door salesman was
a thing of the past. But
some keep coming back...
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE