united states: MYTH AND REALITY

united states is a provocative series that points a lens at the world’s perception of America’s heritage–a conflation of beauty, mythical romance, and stark reality. Classic Westerns play a powerful role in our cultural perception of the united states, perpetuating myths and magnifying romance. By combining actual stills from influential films with my images taken in the modern-day West, this series brings to light the delicate balance and complex relationship between myth and reality. Iconic images from The Searchers, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, High Noon, and other classics draw the viewer in with the familiar, while the subtle insertion of the modern adds a complex dimension to the works.

Some of these works are included in the exhibition Reality is a Good Likeness, launched by the University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona.

Archival Pigment Print
Museo Silver Rag paper
30” x 20”
2010-2011