Ben Schwab’s paintings and drawings of urban landscapes (Troy, 2008, oil on canvas) are visual explorations of architecture and time. Contemplating his work, you begin to understand the a view of a city is not an image of static mass of steel, glass, and concrete. Instead, his works show arrested moments revealing the existence of three simultaneous eras: the city’s past plans, its current appearance, and – look closely – hints of its future.

My review of his current exhibition is in this week’s City newspaper, and the show is on view at the University of Rochester’s Art and Music Library through June 12th. (more…)