Ignite Studio is proud to host solo exhibits by artists from Hamilton County and surrounding areas as part of our mission to display art from our talented community. Chosen for his striking compositions and for his ability to evoke emotions through strong storytelling, local photographer Peter Konshak will take you on a journey through the “vanishing landscape of American motels” with his color photos.
See “American Motels” on view in the lower lobby of the Fishers branch of the Hamilton East Public Library from May 31st to July 25th, 2025.
About the Artist
Photographer Peter Konshak
Peter Konshak is a local landscape and travel photographer. Peter is a self-taught photographer who started recording his travels with small digital point-and-shoot cameras, then moved to more complex interchangeable lens cameras when planning more advanced photos he wanted to take. At some point, travel and photography melded into one pursuit. In the last few years, Peter has been experimenting with a more analog process using vintage cameras and various styles of film. Peter’s work has been exhibited at local libraries, coffee shops, and other community centers. In addition to motel photography, Peter has an ongoing project photographing Parisian cafes and flower markets.
Explore Peter’s blog of his travels and photography. He is on Instagram and Threads @peterktravels. Peter sells prints of his French cafe photos on Etsy.
About the Exhibit
“Skyview Motel”; Color photo
“This collection of prints explores the vanishing landscape of American motels through color photography. Motels were once the dominant lodging option across the American landscape, serving the needs of an increasingly mobile population that traveled long distances by automobile. Most motels were family owned and operated, while national chains were rare. With the expansion of the interstate system and passenger airline travel, the number of motels has diminished. The increase of chain hotels has drastically altered the industry, with homogenous appearance and experience becoming the norm while the unique, individual motel has suffered.
I work in two photographic mediums — digital and film. I have increasingly turned to film to evoke the nostalgia of these places that I am photographing. Not simply a passerby, my style of travel and photography requires me to stay in most of the motels I photograph. My travels have taken me to motels from Maine to California, with many places in between.
“Starlite Motel”; Color photo
This exhibition will highlight three distinct geographic locations in the United States. We start in Wildwood, New Jersey, along the Jersey Shore. The completion of the Garden State Parkway in 1955 ushered in an era of automobile travel along the coast, with Wildwood becoming one of the premier destinations for beachgoers. Wildwood was once home to over 300 motels, but that number has steadily declined to less than 100. The demolished motels have made way for condominiums and short term rentals, reflecting the desire of travelers to have larger, more luxurious options.
“Monterey Motel”; Color photo
Leaving Wildwood, we arrive in New Mexico after a lengthy journey west along Route 66. In Tucumcari, New Mexico, we find many motels that have survived despite Route 66 being bypassed by I-40. The Blue Swallow Motel is the most famous, but others, including the Safari Motel, Americana Motel, and Palomino Motel, still welcome travelers. Some two hours west of Tucumcari, a wonderful collection of mid-century motels still exist in Albuquerque. The motels of Albuquerque provide some hope for the future — motels such as the Monterey and El Vado have been re-imagined as trendy, bespoke properties attracting a new style of traveler.
Our journey ends in California. We pass through Palm Springs, a mecca of mid-century design and motels. Like some properties in Albuquerque, the trend here is not historic preservation — it is rebirth and re-imagination. Rebuilt motels like the Trixie, the Marley, and Saguaro breathe new life into tired older structures.
My hope is that this collection of photography will evoke a sense of nostalgia among those who have traveled the highways of the United States. I hope this exhibit inspires future travelers to explore the unique options that motels offer.”
See “American Motels” on display at the Fishers branch of HEPL at 5 Municipal Drive, Fishers, IN 46038. This exhibit will be on view from May 31st to July 25th, 2025. If you are interested in purchasing a piece from this show, let us know at [email protected] or by giving us a call at 317-579-0331. Learn more about our exhibits on the Ignite website.