Back to basics: Airport exhibit showcases ‘the simple life’
By DeAllous Smith

If a picture is worth a thousand words, the Airport’s new Atrium Gallery exhibit, “Landscape/Portrait,” tells quite a story. The collection of photographs by Carl Martin, which will be on display from March 3 to April 21, not only depicts people and places of the Deep South but also captures a culture that persists despite rapidly changing times.

There are no images of soaring high-rises, bustling interstates and busy sidewalks, but Martin’s photographs do not dwell on the past, either. Instead, he assembles images of people and landscapes that feel familiar and timeless while staying firmly rooted in modernity. These photos of “friendly faces and open spaces” trace the continuity of Southern culture and experience.

“Martin’s photographs of people and places tell a rich story,” said Katherine Marbury, Airport Art Program manager. “Although the images celebrate life in the South, viewers may recognize their own hometowns, regardless of their region or country of residence.”

The photographs in “Landscape/Portrait” span 21 years of Martin’s working life and offer a connection to the region’s past.

“This is a must-see exhibit,” Marbury said. “It appeals to our memories while reminding us who we are in the present.”