When Dan Hawkins goes to Motown, hes all about business. No one goes to Detroit for vacation, he says. Hawkins latest exhibit, Detroit: Arsenal of Democracy (through Jan. 4), gives some picture-perfect reasons why the city doesnt have Disneyland tourist appeal. The Seattle-based photographer shoots abandoned buildingsmental hospitals, jails, hotels, chemical factories, and nuclear facilitiesin their various states of decay. Detroit, dubbed the abandoned building capital of the world for its 36,000 forgotten structures, provided Hawkins with plenty of materialaround 4,000 shots. (In a way, Detroit is his Disneyland.) Twenty of those dark, looming, and eerie compositions form Hawkins exhibit, which is utterly capitvating and surprisingly beautiful. Thats a good thing for Hawkins, who says he would be thrilled if any of the buildings is preserved because of his work. In the meantime, hell settle for this: I want people to see how something like this could occur in the richest country in the world. Form/Space Atelier, 2407 First Ave., 349-2509, www.formspaceatelier.com. Free. Noon to 4 p.m. JOSHUA LYNCH
Wednesdays-Sundays. Starts: Dec. 19. Continues through Jan. 4, 2008