MARCUS NEWTON - EXPOSURE INTERNATIONAL OPEN CALL

“🌴🌴🌴” is a series of photographs highlighting the palm tree and exotic plant industry in Homestead, Florida, as well as the community of people who cultivate them. The land once submerged within the Everglades wetland is one of the only subtropical zones in the continental United States. Homestead’s unique geographic region south of Miami is home to over 100 exotic plant nurseries that range from small family owned nurseries to robust multi-national corporations including Costa Farms, whose plants are distributed worldwide at Home Depot, Lowes, CVS, IKEA, as well as many other wholesalers and private retailers. 

Having roots in biblical ideology the palm tree is a timeless symbol of warmth, peace, and tranquility. With this in mind, I explore its junction with consumerism and colonialism. Within this suburban landscape of cultural diversity, intoxicating aromas, ambient reggaetón and murals of tropical places, I confront my gaze of the palm as a white, native New Yorker. The photographs of these nurseries serve to celebrate the culture of plant cultivation with its endless physical beauty, but also confronts for me, a tangible interpretation of paradise.

BIOGRAPHY

Marcus Newton is an artist living, working, and teaching in Binghamton, New York. His artwork employs a combination of photography and other image processes. Through exploring cultural symbols of natural beauty such as those found in tropical nurseries, artificial plants, and wilderness attractions, he engages the medium of photography for its role in both constructing and dismantling myths of paradise.

He has a deep interest in a nuanced wilderness. One that grows between the cracks in sidewalks and along the contours of civilization. He also keeps a short list of favorite bogs in his area and has been a skateboarder for 20 years.

Marcus’ work has been exhibited both nationally and in Canada. He earned a Bachelors of Arts from Brevard College (NC) and his MFA in Photography from The Savannah College of Art and Design (GA). Marc currently works as the Photography Specialist/Digital Media Technician at SUNY Binghamton, and teaches photography at SUNY Broome Community College.