I find real beauty in the aesthetics of decay. The colors of rust, the light pouring through broken-down walls and roofs, and the shadows cast by curlicues of paint peeling down the walls create tapestries of a life that once was; a history to discover. I began a journey of discovery in August of 2006 by taking a self-portrait every day for two years. What began as an inner dialogue very quickly turned outward as I shared my work. Self-portraiture became a natural means to visually communicate, creating an intimate bond with my audience. Setting up a self-portrait session in an abandoned location is about capturing a representation of the chaos within—the turmoil I face as an artist and most especially as an aging woman in our society.
Sarah R. Bloom is an artist, portrait & event photographer, and writer whose work has appeared in The Art of the State show at the Pennsylvania State Museum in both 2008 and 2010, and in the Photography 30 exhibition at The Perkins Center for the Arts in 2011. Her first solo exhibition, Totally Exposed: I Fall and I Rise, was on display at the Da Vinci Art Alliance September 2011. She has been a member of the Da Vinci Art Alliance for 2 years, showing in several of their group shows. Sarah lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and teenage daughter.
