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 Patricia Carr Morgan’s 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