8 to 10 Cleaning Services (2021-2022)

In Eveningside (2021-2022), Crewdson explores moments of contemplation within the confines of quotidien life, in places of employment, and in moments just outside of those work structures. The figures populating the pictures are sparse, and are often seen through storefront windows, in mirror reflections, or positioned underneath the mundane proscenium found in the midst of their everyday routines: railroad bridges, doorways, porches, the overhanging roofline of a bank teller drive-thru, a dairy bar, a corner market, or a hardware store. Bringing his vantage point closer to the figures, using a heightened range of light and darkness, special effects such as fog, rain, smoke, and haze, and for the first time using his now ubiquitous full production and lighting team in a monochromatic palette, the result is a rich gothic atmosphere, evocative of film noir and classic cinema, but with the capabilities and clarity of the most current technology available in digital photography. Edition: 1 of 1 Set of 10. Each set includes 10 images: the final version and 9 supporting images. — 8 TO 10 CLEANING SERVICES EXT. EVENINGSIDE - RAILROAD BRIDGES HANGOUT - TWILIGHT We are positioned below a railroad bridge, which itself frames another railroad bridge just beyond it. The concrete, stone, steel, and wood making up these structures are all in bad repair, and it's unclear whether a train would actually be supported by either. They're stained, graffitied, and evoke more about drug use and transient life than anything having to do with industry or the railroad. Trash and debris are scattered in and around dirt and weeds pushing up into this inhospitable environment. In the distance, there is a VAN with a company logo on the side. It's barely legible, but one can faintly make out the words "8 TO 10 CLEANING SERVICES." The back door is open, and the van's light is on inside. A bucket, mop, and other cleaning supplies are visible. There are TWO YOUNG WOMEN hanging out beneath the bridge, close to camera, one standing, wearing a cleaning uniform, and the other seated on a stone ledge, her uniform wadded up on the ground nearby. The young woman on the ledge smokes a cigarette, as they unwind after a long day of work.