Art After Dark: Milford pair publish photo book on 'Abandoned America'

By Anya Tikka
MILFORD – If books about asylums scattered across the country sounds spooky, you’re wrong. Rusty Tagliareni and Christina Mathews, young Milford residents, explained that their books are not about what went on in the ancient buildings — although mental health is part of the couple’s mission — it’s all about their beauty and architectural grandeur, and how to reach out to others to learn to appreciate them as well.
Tagliareni explained when many of the buildings were constructed, the idea was to make them “like high-end resorts” and many thought the surroundings would help to uplift the spirits of the inmates.
As part of the Art after Dark series of events, antique and art store “Since Yesterday” hosted their book signing on Saturday evening, Aug. 14, complete with a constant streaming video showing how the QR codes at the end of each chapter of the couple’s second book, “Antiquity Echoes: A Photographed Tour of Abandoned America,” can be scanned to bring up an instant online video about it.
Shop owner Tessa Fleszar said the event brought in more shoppers than usual for a Saturday night and that she was happy to host the event. A bar for refreshments was available for visitors.
Both Tagliareni and Mathews worked on the books. Mathews described herself as “a self-taught videographer,” and, according to her, Tagliareni did the rest.
Their first book, “Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital,” includes many up-to-now unpublished archived photos of the buildings.
It sold out twice in its opening week on Amazon and has been listed both as a "#1 Best Seller" and "#1 New Release," according to Tagliareni and Mathews.
The couple is also interested in documenting re-using old buildings that still exist for new, different purposes. They formed PreservationWorks, a national advocacy group to protect the country's last remaining Kirkbride, a specific style of 19th-Century style institutions. Their second book, “Antiquity Echoes” includes footage of not only asylums, but also other old sites, some of which have been converted into shopping malls and resorts.
Their work has been featured on many websites, newspapers, magazines, and on 60 Minutes, they explained.