David Allee
Encyclopedia
David S. Allee is an American photographer.
Allee received an undergraduate degree in economics and government from Cornell University
in 1991, and his MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts
(2001). Allee came to photography after a career in the field of urban and environmental planning.
“Sandhog
.” Sandhog
s are builder/miners responsible for the Panama Canal
, and much of New York City
's infrastructure. Their excavation projects are some of the largest ever undertaken; they include the city's water tunnels (which took over fifty years to complete), much of the New York City Subway
System, and the caissons
(underwater foundations) for the city's bridges. The society of Sandhog
s is largely made up of a patrilineal line—and only a few hundred families. The job is statistically the most dangerous father-to-son profession in the United States. Approximately one sandhog
dies for every mile of tunnel they deliver. A selection of Allee's "A Man a Mile" was published in the October 1997 issue of Esquire
. Accompanying text was provided by former Sandhog
and novelist, Thomas Kelly
.
More recent shows have furthered an investigation of public space as it barriers the individual: “Turnpike Condos” (06) iterates the meeting of freeways and housing developments; “Cross Lands” (06) addresses a contemporary landscape of garages, housing, parks, commercial properties—all adjacent and at cross purposes. Allee’s work, likewise, traverses divisions of fine arts, political activism, photojournalism
and contemporary cartography. In a moment of the dying landscape, Allee dissects and catalogues the winsome flower of decay. In 2005, Allee worked with New York City
’s Center for Architecture
in documenting the Percent for Art
program. http://www.aiany.org/centerforarchitecture/cityart/
Allee received an undergraduate degree in economics and government from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1991, and his MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts
School of Visual Arts
The School of Visual Arts , is a proprietary art school located in Manhattan, New York City, and is widely considered to be one of the leading art schools in the United States. It was established in 1947 by co-founders Silas H. Rhodes and Burne Hogarth as the Cartoonists and Illustrators School and...
(2001). Allee came to photography after a career in the field of urban and environmental planning.
Photography
Allee’s 1997 photographic series, “A Man a Mile,” documents the New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
“Sandhog
Sandhog
Sandhog is the slang term given to urban miners, construction workers who work underground on a variety of excavation projects in New York City. Generally these projects involve tunneling, caisson excavation, road building, or some other type of underground construction or mining projects...
.” Sandhog
Sandhog
Sandhog is the slang term given to urban miners, construction workers who work underground on a variety of excavation projects in New York City. Generally these projects involve tunneling, caisson excavation, road building, or some other type of underground construction or mining projects...
s are builder/miners responsible for the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, and much of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's infrastructure. Their excavation projects are some of the largest ever undertaken; they include the city's water tunnels (which took over fifty years to complete), much of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
System, and the caissons
Caisson (engineering)
In geotechnical engineering, a caisson is a retaining, watertight structure used, for example, to work on the foundations of a bridge pier, for the construction of a concrete dam, or for the repair of ships. These are constructed such that the water can be pumped out, keeping the working...
(underwater foundations) for the city's bridges. The society of Sandhog
Sandhog
Sandhog is the slang term given to urban miners, construction workers who work underground on a variety of excavation projects in New York City. Generally these projects involve tunneling, caisson excavation, road building, or some other type of underground construction or mining projects...
s is largely made up of a patrilineal line—and only a few hundred families. The job is statistically the most dangerous father-to-son profession in the United States. Approximately one sandhog
Sandhog
Sandhog is the slang term given to urban miners, construction workers who work underground on a variety of excavation projects in New York City. Generally these projects involve tunneling, caisson excavation, road building, or some other type of underground construction or mining projects...
dies for every mile of tunnel they deliver. A selection of Allee's "A Man a Mile" was published in the October 1997 issue of Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
. Accompanying text was provided by former Sandhog
Sandhog
Sandhog is the slang term given to urban miners, construction workers who work underground on a variety of excavation projects in New York City. Generally these projects involve tunneling, caisson excavation, road building, or some other type of underground construction or mining projects...
and novelist, Thomas Kelly
Thomas Kelly
-Public officials and political activists:*Thomas Kelly , Conservative from Prince Edward Island*Thomas J. Kelly , leader in Irish Republican Brotherhood, came to America in 1851 and served on Union side in Civil War*Thomas Kelly , , one of Sinn Féin founding members who represented Dublin...
.
More recent shows have furthered an investigation of public space as it barriers the individual: “Turnpike Condos” (06) iterates the meeting of freeways and housing developments; “Cross Lands” (06) addresses a contemporary landscape of garages, housing, parks, commercial properties—all adjacent and at cross purposes. Allee’s work, likewise, traverses divisions of fine arts, political activism, photojournalism
Photojournalism
Photojournalism is a particular form of journalism that creates images in order to tell a news story. It is now usually understood to refer only to still images, but in some cases the term also refers to video used in broadcast journalism...
and contemporary cartography. In a moment of the dying landscape, Allee dissects and catalogues the winsome flower of decay. In 2005, Allee worked with New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
’s Center for Architecture
Center for Architecture
Operated by the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Center for Architecture is located in the neighborhood of Greenwich Village at 536 LaGuardia Place, between West 3rd Street and Bleecker Street in New York City...
in documenting the Percent for Art
Percent for Art
The term "percent for art" refers to a program, often a city ordinance, where a fee, usually some percentage of the project cost, is placed on large scale development projects in order to fund and install public art. The details of such programs vary from area-to-area...
program. http://www.aiany.org/centerforarchitecture/cityart/