FABRIC

The flag of the United States of America is one of the most recognized symbols in the world. As such, it inspires many different reactions and stirs many different emotions around the globe. Depending on the context and the audience, the flag can be either unifying or divisive. Contemporary or historic. A sign of peace or conflict. Hope or hopelessness. For some, the US flag is simply a piece of fabric. For others, it is part of the very fabric of their community. Here in the rural American Midwest, the flag remains an often-seen and highly-respected symbol of freedom, national pride and history. It is a powerful emblem of a common heritage. A symbol for which the support is often unwavering, regardless of which way the political winds may blow. In small towns and villages throughout the Midwest, the American Flag is both a reminder of the past and a promise for the future. While it may appear in different forms and locations, for many it remains a universal icon that represents a shared pursuit of the American Dream. At times, today’s political and cultural differences may stretch the United States at the seams. But even when public opinion may seem a bit frayed around the edges, there are still reminders that we are also held together by some powerful common threads. For many people here in “fly over country” the stars and stripes still represent much more than just a piece of fabric. For them, the flag is part of the fabric of the rural American Midwest. I think of the Midwest as classic and timeless in nature. So I approached this project from a straight photography perspective in the spirit of Group f/64, giving the work a modernist character with a strong formalist dimension. My approach was informed by the work of mid-century modernist photographers such as Adams, Weston, White, Strand and Evans. My work was also influenced by the American Regionalism movement and the work of artists who portrayed the American heartland, including Wood, Benton, Curry, Wyeth and Hopper.