Contemporary Art Matters is pleased to present 26 Planned Parenthoods, a solo exhibition of new works by Jared Thorne in the gallery from March 1 – April 30, 2019.

26 Planned Parenthoods features large photographs from a new series of images taken of all 26 Planned Parenthood clinics in Ohio. The photos were shot as landscapes, featuring the buildings in their surroundings, without people. The places reflect the towns and cities from Lorain to Delaware to Hamilton and Youngstown, locations all around the state. The artist spent months traveling to capture each location and the character of the place.

“Power and desire lie at the heart of my artistic practice and my current work aims to articulate these concepts absent the human form. Exploring the varied Ohio landscape, studying its many architectures, and contemplating the power and desire manifest throughout these forms led to my latest project, 26 Planned Parenthoods, in which I photographed Planned Parenthood facilities throughout the state. Altogether there are 26 institutions spread strategically throughout the Buckeye state.

Planned Parenthood is at the forefront of providing Women’s healthcare services to underprivileged and the disadvantaged, who in Ohio are disproportionately African-American and Latino. According to the Planned Parenthood’s 2014-2015 Annual Report only a fraction of the services provided are Planned Parenthood are abortion services while an overwhelming majority are STD Testing, Contraception, Pregnancy Test, and Cancer Screen Prevention (P.P. Annual Report 2014-2015).”

Jared Thorne is gaining international attention with his photography that focuses on issues of identity, race and class in America and abroad. Jared has spent time teaching in South Africa and has made several series relating to the experience of living in Johannesburg and Cape Town.