Ohio's Back Roads - New Exhibit at Fifth Third Center in Dayton, OH

  While I spend most of my time in Cincinnati photographing the city of Cincinnati or Architectural assignments, whenever possible I love taking a drive in the country and exploring the back roads of Ohio.  Here are a few images from this collection.  Visit my website to see more.

Most of these photographs were taken in Highland County near Hillsboro, OH.

                                                       Pumpkin patch outside Circleville, Ohio

To see additional photos of Rural Ohio, please visit my online gallery.

DAAP at UC - The Aronoff Center for Design and Art

The University of Cincinnati's DAAP Building, also known as the Aronoff Center for Design and Art, has recently undergone several architectural upgrades and surface renovations - primarily a re-cladding of it's exterior.

These photographs, taken this Summer of 2014, showcase the exterior upgrades.

The building, designed by architect Peter Eisenman and constructed in 1996, is now coated with aluminum paneling, which retains the pastel colored look of the original design - but provides a more durable method of water-sealing and protection.

Eisenman's objective when designing the Aronoff Center for Design and Art was to combine the existing DAAP buildings, constructed in the 1950s and 70s, and to expand the facility.  The site presented several issues, as the landscape did not present much room for additions.  

The solution, presented by Eisenman, was to place much of the structure underground, work with the challenging landscape, and wrap the additions around the existing buildings - creating one uniformly connected facility in a non-uniform landscape.  The result is the university's most free-flowing and formless building, a testament to the creativity and design potential of the college's students.

UC's College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning is home to several nationally top-ranked programs, including their Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Architectural programs.  This $10m investment by the University of Cincinnati ensures the lasting future for these strong programs.

Taft Museum

This former home of Nicholas Longworth and Charles Taft has long played an important role in the history of Cincinnati.  Built in 1820 it is the oldest building in downtown Cincinnati. This Federal style building was home to Nicholas Longworth who developed the hill behind his property (now Mt. Adams) into a vineyard to produce grapes for his then famous Catawba sparkling wine.

Longworth built an amazing building in top of the hill for his daughter to create the world famous Rookwood Pottery Company. The wealthy and political Taft family purchased the property in 1873 and owned it until 1929.  William H. Taft accepted his presidential nomination at the building in 1908.  The Tafts donated the home and most of their art collection to the city of Cincinnati in 1927.

It now is one of the finest historic house museums in the country, housing famous European paintings, fine early American paintings, and fabulous murals by Robert Duncanson painted directly on its walls.  They also have fine collections of Chinese porcelains, European decorative arts, and much more.

The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and part of the Lytle Park Historic District.  The Museum is always featuring special exhibits that give a fresh look to the museum with its amazing art collections.

Full-size art prints and more photographs of the Taft Museum are available as a part of my Cincinnati Collection.

Tyler Davidson Fountain

The center of Downtown Cincinnati, the Tyler Davidson Fountain, was a gift to the people of Cincinnati by Henry Probasco in 1871. The fountain was named in the honor of his brother-in-law and business partner Tyler Davidson.

The fountain was cast in bronze in Germany and skillfully moved and assembled in Cincinnati. It was originally in an esplanade in the middle of Fifth Street and eventually moved to a new public square named Fountain Square. 

Fountain Square and the Tyler Davidson Fountain have gone through several renovations and relocations of the fountain.  Today the fountain is a symbol of Cincinnati.  A gathering point of visitors and residents alike,  She is an enduring fixture that welcomes all to downtown Cincinnati. 

Full-size prints and more photographs of Tyler Davidson Fountain are available as a part of my Cincinnati Collection.