Chicago Project-Gabriela Cifuentes

Beyond the boarded windows of every abandoned house lies a wealth of memories and mementos – and an overwhelming presence that lingers despite the obvious lack of habitation. The quality of this imprint is as unique to each house as is the architecture and history. There is an inherent beauty in houses that possess a strong sense of sadness and nostalgia. Each time I enter one, I do so with a sense of awe and respect for what remains and what once was. Because of this, I am careful not to disrupt what I come across. I photograph each setting exactly as I find it.

After years of exploring and learning from these houses, I am all too aware of their fragility and impermanence. It is my hope to preserve, through this body of work, the essence of what will one day vanish altogether.

Spatula, Dwight, IL (1999)	Orange Curtain, Dwight, IL (1999)	Blue Room, Dwight, IL (1999)
Chair, Okaton, SD (2000)	Kitchen Jar, Mt. Pleasant, IA (2002)	Bouquet, Sugar Grove, IL (2002)
Green Wall, Dietrich, IL (2002)	Ironing Board, Dwight, IL (1999) Rose, Sugar Grove, IL (2002)	Swan, Dwight, IL (1999)

Beyond the boarded windows of every abandoned house lies a wealth of memories and mementos – and an overwhelming presence that lingers despite the obvious lack of habitation. The quality of this imprint is as unique to each house as is the architecture and history. There is an inherent beauty in houses that possess a strong sense of sadness and nostalgia. Each time I enter one, I do so with a sense of awe and respect for what remains and what once was. Because of this, I am careful not to disrupt what I come across. I photograph each setting exactly as I find it. After years of exploring and learning from these houses, I am all too aware of their fragility and impermanence. It is my hope to preserve, through this body of work, the essence of what will one day vanish altogether.