Arnold tunstall
on the street & at the fair
Digital reproductions of toned gelatin silver prints
ABOUT THE artist
I am compelled to photograph because I am, by nature, acquisitive and sentimental. I wish to have physical records of my experiences and surroundings. I want to stop and collect most everything. I am interested in the passage of time and photography’s ability to freeze it. The moment the photograph is taken it becomes a record of the past and, for me, nostalgic.
I’m a product of the mid-late twentieth century in a Northeast Ohio suburb and the idea of “America” has always intrigued me. I wonder if it is our buildings, natural wonders, or signs and symbols that define us. What to make of all this stuff? And who is it being created for? I capture it, multiply it, or collect it and wait for it to make some sense to me.
Recently, I’ve been exploring the glut of imagery that we encounter daily, and how we process and order this visual language. I continue to be fascinated by black & white film and the resulting surreal or theatrical quality that is often heightened when we see the world in monochrome. These two series of images represent long-time areas of interest for me. I am fascinated by the environments around fairs and festivals and have been attending the Canfield Fair for decades. The other group of images represent my love for street photography. I am drawn to the energy of the spaces in cities of any size, even when they are empty of people. I am fascinated by layers within an urban environment and what is revealed or covered by each layer.
Arnold Tunstall is currently Director of University Art Galleries, Myers School of Art and Interim Coordinator of the Arts Administration graduate program at The University of Akron. He received his B.F.A. from The University of Akron, majoring in Graphic Design and Photography, and an M.F.A in Photography from Ohio University.
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