|
|
Artist Statement:
Artist’s Statement
The photographs displayed here
represent the past six years
of exploring “sacred grounds”
in the cemeteries of Scotland,
notably the area in and around
Edinburgh. These sites are
extremely rich in visual
treasure. From the first time
I set foot in Warriston
Cemetery, I knew I had
stumbled upon a subject that
spoke to me on many different
levels. Each site possesses a
unique slice of the history,
culture, religion, art and
architecture of the time
period in which it was
created. Today, several of
the sites are sealed up and
most are in a shameful state
of disrepair with nature
rapidly reclaiming the
landscape. Trees and shrubs,
once carefully manicured, now
tower over and envelop the
beautifully carved tombstones.
Celtic crosses and majestic
marble angels are hostage to
vines and weeds that strangle
and conceal them from the view
of the passerby.
My first summer visiting the
many cemeteries of Edinburgh
was spent familiarizing myself
with the layout of the sites.
Most of the original landscape
design has been lost under
plantings grown wild over the
years. It is the careful
observer that begins to
discover the delicate objects
that lie hidden amidst the
neglect of ...
Further Information
| |
Artist Exhibitions:
R o b e r t R e i n
h a r d t
Solo Exhibitions
2009 Eternal
Images, Rosemont College,
Rosemont PA
2008 Sacred to the
Memory. Hofstra University,
Hempstead NY
2007 Sacred
Grounds, Faculty Gallery,
Fleisher Art Memorial
Philadelphia
PA
2006 Sleep- Images
from Scotland’s Historic ...
Further Information
|
|
Artist Galleries:
I am not currently represented
by a formal gallery.
To access information about my
books, go to blurb.com to
review recent publications.
To view more historic cemetery
images you can also access my
photos at the RCAHMS website:
The Royal Commission on the
Ancient and Historic Monuments
of Scotland.
...
Further Information
|
|
Artist Reviews:
News for November
REST IN PIXELS - Solo Exhibit
@ Rosemont College
November 10 - December 5, 2009
Opening reception: Thursday,
November 12 - 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Artist’s talk : 4:30 p.m.
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s
Victoria Donohoe’s review of
this exhibit.
Digital photos
Robert Reinhardt's diverting
...
Further Information
|
|
Collections:
Collections:
Royal Commission on
the Historic & Ancient
Monuments of Scotland
Philadelphia Art Museum,
Philadelphia, PA
Federal Reserve Bank,
Philadelphia, PA
Jackson National Life
Insurance Corp., MI
Kimmel Performing Center for
the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Core States, Philadelphia, PA
Fortune Magazine, New York,
NY
Commerce Bank, Cherry Hill,
NJ
Bell Atlantic, ...
Further Information
|
|
Commissions:
Coming Soon!
|
|
|
Robert Reinhardt Biography:
| Biographical information for Robert Reinhardt can be found below. The artist may choose what information to display. Sometimes the artist chooses not to display personal information to the general public. |
|
Age
|
55
|
| |
| Gender |
Male
|
| |
| Status |
not provided
|
| |
| Children |
99
|
| |
| Religion |
not provided |
| |
| Education |
Graduate Degree |
| |
| Hobbies / Interests |
not provided |
| |
| Favorite Artistic Medium |
Photography Color
|
| |
| Favorite Arthistory Movement |
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood - (1848 - 1854)
|
| |
| Favorite Visual Artist |
not provided
|
| |
| Favorite Work of Art |
not provided
|
| |
| Biggest Artistic Inspiration |
not provided |
| |
| Why Did You Become An Artist |
not provided |
| |
| Your Personal Biography |
American photographer records Edinburgh's cemeteries
15 December 2008
American photographer Bob Reinhardt has taken over 14,000 pictures of Edinburgh's graveyards since 2000, when he first visited Scotland as part of an annual exchange trip between Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, where he teaches art, and St George’s School in Edinburgh.
Reinhardt, who grew up in the town of Valhalla, New York, in a house surrounded by seven cemeteries, became interested in Edinburgh’s memorials when he noticed an overgrown cemetery – Warriston – while out walking with friends.
He said, “Seeing Warriston for the first time turned my visual sensibilities upside down. Instead of being this manicured Victorian sanctuary it was completely overrun and fast losing a battle to Mother Nature. For the past eight years I have spent a lot of time photographing this cemetery, and I was soon to explore the rest of the wonderful cemeteries in Edinburgh. The incredible sense of history and culture within the walls of these resting places is overwhelming to me. One reason I continue to do this is that each time I come back, I find pieces vandalised. With the images housed at RCAHMS the general public will have access to a record of these wonderful sites. I hope this will raise awareness of their condition and help to save or stabilise many of the cemeteries.”
Lesley Ferguson, Head of Collections at RCAHMS said, “Graveyards are a very significant aspect of Scotland’s cultural heritage. In the past 20 or 30 years, there’s been growing awareness that this vital part of Scotland’s heritage was being lost – through erosion, vandalism and age, and there was recognition that we should be recording these stones. We are delighted to have Bob Reinhardt’s images in the RCAHMS collection – he has captured a lot of important information in his work.”
The photographs include memorials of some of Edinburgh’s most famous residents, including the newsagent John Menzies, interior decorator and designer Thomas Bonnar and surgeon James Simpson, as well as many other people whose everyday jobs have contributed to the life and history of the capital.
Examples of Reinhardt’s work photographing Edinburgh’s cemeteries can be found in two publications, Sleep and Silent, which are held in the RCAHMS public search room. Over the coming months, images from the extensive collection will be catalogued and made available to the public through our searchable online database Canmore. They will supplement the already substantial archive of graveyard and memorial images kept by RCAHMS. |
| |
|
contact artist
