Steve Liss is an accomplished photojournalist, as evidenced by having 43 Time Magazine cover photos to his credit.

But it isn't this professional success that Liss takes the most pride in. Steve Liss is a humanitarian who uses photo essays to communicate tough topics. His subjects have ranged from poverty in the Mississippi Delta, to runaway youth living on the streets of Hollywood, to a study of the Nuns of Mankato and Alzheimer's disease. He has been the recipient of the Soros Justice Media Fellowship for his work on juvenile justice and the Alicia Patterson Fellowship for his work on domestic poverty.

We are delighted and excited to be asked to participate in his latest project entitled; In Our Own Backyard: U.S. Poverty in the 21st Century (web site). This is a unique poverty awareness project being undertaken by 15+ preeminent American photojournalists. The project goal is to use the visual power of large-format documentary photography to elevate the discussion of making the fight against poverty a national priority.

This project is in partnership with Catholic Charities and their campaign to cut poverty in half by 2020. Nine major photographic and multi-media exhibits, each with 50 emotionally-moving large format photographs will tour throughout the United States begining in the fall of 2009.

This project will be kicked off at a leadership summit on April 20, 2009 at the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN. Registration is here and an invitation postcard is here.

Poverty has many faces and it is impossible to ignore when seen up close and personal. It is projects like this that make work seem less like work and more like purpose.

Mostly the bandshell is shrouded under plastic right now, so there is very little to see. Loyal readers may want to see the architectural rendering of the bandshell layout. It is going to be awesome!

By going backwards through telephone directories (this is known as a 'Jim Rockford') and speaking with Barb Tittle, it was possible to stitch together a more complete history of this building.

This building has a very significant photography (and real estate) lineage.

312 West Avenue chronology:

1894 - 1902 Lidberg Studio (original location)
1902 - 1920 Lidberg Studio (new location)
1920 - 1936 E. H. Lidberg Real Estate
1937 - 1947 Davison Studio
1948 - 1949 Wood's Studio
1950 - 1952 Hodge Studio
1953 - 1979 Chalet Studio
1980 - 2004 InComm Realty and Maas Realty (later Coldwell-Banker)
2005 - 2007 Gary-Donald Arts, a private art dealer
2008 - Present Red Wing Portrait Studio (and Red Wing Framing Gallery)

For 73 years, out of a total 115 years, this building has been home to 6 different photography studios. For 40 years out of this same 115 years, this building has been home to at least 3 (if not 4) real estate companies.

Draw your own conclusions.