Review

"Auto Parts," Archival Photographic Print.

Aaron Dougherty
Junk Yard

9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City
906 Grand, Suite 10B
Kansas City, MO 64106
816.221.1777

Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Runs through: April 30

Artist's sites: http://www.aarondougherty.com
http://aarondougherty.wordpress.com
Arts Council site: http://www.artskc.org

Aaron Dougherty is an architect with two decades of experience and has taken pictures professionally for the past seven years.

He spent three years as the in-house photographer for one of the most respected sports architecture firms in the world. (That would be Populous, the former HOK Sport).

So on the surface, Dougherty's interest in utilitarian steel and cinder block buildings, rusting fences and — let's be blunt here — junk might seem more than a bit out of character.

Obviously, it's not ... and that's a good thing.

Dougherty's Junk Yard series of photographs, which showed in November at the Plenum Art Space and is now at the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City for a three-month run, is loaded with gritty charm.

So what if the salvage yards, repair shops and food carts he photographs aren't in the "best" parts of town? That hasn't stopped their owners from putting obvious care and effort into how their buildings look.

Bright paint (one establishment's fence bears the stars and stripes of a giant American flag) is one option. A big, eye-catching sign — or two or three, just so there's no mistake as to the nature of the business — is another. Frequently, as with the auto parts store pictured above, both elements come into play.

These aren't so much architectural shots, really, as nature photographs.

In commerce, as in nature, competition requires a suitor to stand out. Big signs/antlers ... colorful plumage/paint ... it all says, Look at me. I can provide the best genes/service/selection. Every encounter with a potential customer is a sort of mating ritual, with the winning business standing the better chance of survival.

The challenge of any artist, especially one whose creative outlet is also a business, is similar: In a city saturated with quality art, one must find a way to stand out to viewers.

In Junk Yard, Dougherty has designed a show that does just that.

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