In late 2008, photographer John Labovitz spent a month exploring the unique environment of the Convento São Francisco de Mértola in Portugal’s rural Alentejo region. The once-ruined and abandoned buildings of the convent have been restored by its artists/residents, and the ancient Moorish gardens are again lush and prosperous. Sculptures and mechanical creatures roam among cypresses, wild asparagus, peacocks, and the native kestrels and storks. John’s black and white photographs tell intertwining stories of the land, its history, the people, and their art.
A catalog of the photographs in the exhibition, along with an explanatory essay by the artist, is available in book form. It can be purchased at the gallery, or may be ordered from Lulu for $12 plus shipping; a PDF version can be downloaded from Lulu at no cost.