Author: mblum6180_l6d6qy
Send Martin Tower to Mars!
Launch the iconic skyscraper to space, and land safely on Mars
Welcome to the Send Martin Tower to Mars!, an 8-bit style adventure game where you get to launch the iconic Martin Tower into space and guide it to a safe landing on the red planet. With retro graphics and challenging gameplay, this game will put your skills to the test as you navigate through space and dodge obstacles on your way to Mars. Get ready to embark on a mission like no other, and show the universe what Martin Tower is made of!
Nature and Machine — Rotunda Gallery Exhibition
In December 2022, Lehigh Valley Press featured my photography exhibition Nature and Machine, shown at the Rotunda Gallery in Bethlehem.
The exhibition explored the tension and balance between organic forms and human-made objects through traditional photographic processes. The work included palladium, cyanotype, albumen, ambrotype, gumoil, and silver gelatin prints—each photograph hand-printed in the darkroom using historically rooted techniques.
As noted in the article, my approach treats the camera as a tool chosen specifically for the subject, with every image individually printed rather than digitally reproduced. Several works on view were made using unconventional equipment, including pinhole cameras fabricated on a 3D printer.
One highlighted piece, Pinhole Trees (2021), was photographed at Lake Muhlenberg in Cedar Beach Park using a custom pinhole camera and a long exposure. The “Nature” side of the gallery featured trees, wildlife, shells, and blossoms, while the “Machine” side included images of vintage vehicles, musical instruments, industrial forms, and the Bethlehem Steel plant.
The exhibition was sponsored by the Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission and ran through December 21, 2022.
Read the original article by Ed Courrier at Lehigh Valley Press: https://www.lvpnews.com/20221223/gallery-view-rotunda-nature-and-machine
NATURE AND MACHINE
In this exhibition, Matthew explores aspects of Nature and Machine. By using various processes such as palladium, cyanotype, and silver gelatin,
he matches the feeling of each subject to the image.“With my photography, I prefer traditional ways of photography printing. Depending on the subject, I’ll use the best suited camera as a brush to capture the scene. Once captured each photograph is hand-printed individually in the darkroom.”
Allentown native Matthew Blum is a visual artist who has exhibited in prestigious galleries around the Lehigh Valley. He got his start in the arts by working on local feature movies. While working in film-making he did
a range of tasks such as editing and director of photography. From film-making, his interest in still photography developed with an eye for storytelling.
His exploration into film began with a modest 35mm
darkroom. Later that darkroom set up grew to large format 4 X 5. Today,his preferred printing processes include palladium,cyanotype,and silver gelatin.
Nature and Machine — Featured in The Morning Call
In November 2022, The Morning Call covered my exhibition Nature and Machine, shown at the Rotunda Gallery.
The exhibition presented 30 photographs created using traditional and historical photographic processes, including palladium, cyanotype, and silver gelatin printing. The work explored contrasts between organic forms and engineered objects, emphasizing material, texture, and craft.
Highlighted pieces included Iris, printed in palladium, and 1956 Lincoln Premiere, produced as a silver gelatin print. The show invited viewers to experience photography as a physical, hands-on process rather than a purely digital medium.
Natures and Machine opened on November 13, 2022, and remained on view through December 21.
Photo: April Gamiz/The Morning Call 
Photo: April Gamiz/The Morning Call 
Photo: April Gamiz/The Morning Call 
Photo: April Gamiz/The Morning Call 
Photo: April Gamiz/The Morning Call 
Photo: April Gamiz/The Morning Call 
Photo: April Gamiz/The Morning Call 
Photo: April Gamiz/The Morning Call 
LV Arts Salon — The Many Mediums of Storytelling
In October 2022, I appeared on LV Arts Salon, hosted by Silagh White, alongside actor and comedian Kate Hughes. The episode explored how artists across different disciplines approach storytelling, whether they’re working visibly in the spotlight or supporting other creatives behind the scenes.
The conversation looked at how photography, performance, publishing, and collaboration intersect in the Lehigh Valley arts community, and how stories take shape differently depending on medium, audience, and intent.
During the episode, we also discussed my photography exhibition Nature and Machine, which opened shortly afterward at the Rotunda Gallery. The show examined the relationship between organic forms and engineered objects through traditional photographic processes, and ran from November 13 through December 21, 2022.
Source: LV Arts Salon — “Matt Blum, Kate Hughes, and the Many Mediums of Storytelling”
(Published October 18, 2022)
