Photography exhibit focuses on University City diversity

The smile of a photographer's 9-year-old daughter welcomed spectators last Friday as they visited the University City Arts League to view the opening of the exhibit "University City: Neighborhood Contrasts." The event -- sponsored by the West Philadelphia Partnership and Penn's Office of Community Relations -- displayed the black-and-white photographs and essays of photographer Dave Lakatos. About 52 people attended the exhibit at the league's home on 42nd and Spruce streets. Lakatos' 57 photos and essays focused on the cultural diversity of University City. The works were organized into categories of events, people and important neighborhood sites. An environmental consultant from West Chester, Pa., who shoots in his spare time, Lakatos, 46, did not originally intend to focus on the diversity of the neighborhood. Instead, he had planned on using photography and essays to reveal the differences between the conditions of the neighborhood at the time of its founding and currently. After touring the neighborhood, however, Lakatos was struck by University City's unique composition. "The different churches, societies and people here [in University City] are enormous," he said. "There is so much cultural diversity." Lakatos began researching his project in April 1997, spending countless days in Philadelphia libraries reading books and articles on the neighborhood and its many inhabitants. After completing his research, Lakatos would wake up at all hours to take photos of University City which he felt captured its diversity. His devotion paid off for him last Friday, as spectator after spectator complimented Lakatos on his work. Carolyn Bunch, a 20-year University City resident and art enthusiast, said she was impressed with Lakatos' photos. "For someone who doesn't live in the neighborhood, [his photos are] remarkable not only in the subject matter he has captured but in the high quality of his prints," Bunch said. "I'm learning things I didn't even know about the neighborhood." Lakatos' ability to capture the mosaic of architectural, ethnic and social elements comprising University City was demonstrated in his photographs and appreciated by onlookers. Sidney Holmes, assistant director of Penn Commonwealth and City Relations, noted that the "things [Lakatos] noticed about the architectural diversity [of Penn and the city] are well worth preserving." An example of Lakatos' unique portrayal of one of the many "neighborhood folks" is a photograph entitled "Their Corner, But My Block." In this photo, a Philadelphia police officer who is a native of University City stands stoically on his block. The essay next to the photograph explains the officer's insistence that he is not influenced by the juvenile thugs who hang out on the street corner and that the block belongs to him. Photographs and essays of teachers, businessmen and buildings -- to name a few -- similarly tell their own unique stories. When viewed as a collective unit, however, the exhibit demonstrates the diverse components of University City. "You never realize how rich a neighborhood is until you see a picture," said Penn Office of Community Relations Director Glenn Bryan. The photographs on exhibit at the show range in size from 8" by 10" to 22" by 28" and are for sale. Prices range from $30 to $150. The exhibition is free of charge and remains open to the public for the next three weeks at the University City Arts League.