Bill Boards

 In Billboards, a stunning new series of photographs by Sharon Sauerhoff Abeles, the artist peels back the layers, literally and figuratively, to create new works of art from neglected advertisements, community notices, announcements, political postings, religious screeds, and graffiti.

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The creation of these photos touches on textures and layers of meaning…each image is time turned into tapestry…letters, numbers, and words appearing and disappearing. 

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At the beginning of the Covid pandemic, Sharon traveled through the cities and towns of Israel, driving down less-traveled streets, losing herself on purpose, always on the lookout for a new billboard. 

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I found hundreds of them, to the point where I was obsessed….Many times I would return to the billboards I had already photographed, to discover new papers. I often wondered who was creating these posters, who had put them up. Nobody ever asked me what on earth I was doing, so I continued day and night. 

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Carefully peeling away parts of the postings, Sharon uncovered worn, weathered papers, exposed to climate change, colors melting and merging, a palette that only time could have created. 

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Words that hint at spiritual and philosophical worlds. Numbers that connect to a memory or an age, perhaps a secret. Hebrew, English, Russian, and Arabic. Glue, nails, rusty staples, cracked paint, pieces of pushpins, plastic coverings in an attempt to preserve…dust and dirt all combined. 

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Sharon’s photos document aspects of the environment that are often overlooked or unseen. Each mystical work in the series creates a space for contemplation and dialogue.