Post by Christopher Paquette
Manuel Dominguez Jr.
Can I Count On You If I Fall Apart?
Benna’s Cafe
8th & Wharton Streets
Philadelphia, Pa
April 11th- May 8th
I had marked my calendar to see this exhibit when it first opened but I just couldn’t find the time to get down to South Philly. Seeing Manny Dominguez helping out at the $5 print table at today’s Zoe Strauss Under I-95 show reminded me that I was just around the corner from Benna’s Cafe, and I could still catch his show.
Dominguez is an up and coming Philadelphia photographer. I first saw his work at the 2007 Central Library event Continuum: Photography in Philadelphia, Past Present Future, and he was also chosen for the 2008 Project Basho juried show. His work is thoughtful and full of a retro romantic feeling. He works equally well in color and black & white and is carrying on the traditional film revival.
The subtlety and thoughtfulness that went into the choices of photo pairings for Can I Count On You If I Fall Apart are probably lost to most of the patrons amid the hustle and bustle of Benna’s Cafe. The cafe is tiny, which helps, because Dominguez’s work really shows well here. There is one week left to catch this little gem of an exhibit in the heart of South Philly. Take some time to study each of this photographer’s diptychs, and see first hand part of Philadelphia’s very promising photographic future.
–Photographer Chris Paquette will be presenting a slide show and discussion of his Road Side Memorial series May 14, 7 p.m. at the First Person Salon @ The Gershman Y, part of the First Person Arts festival events.
