American Mosaic

My ‘American Mosaic’ series explores heritage and multicultural identity in America.  As immigrants from every country across the globe or as indigenous natives, we Americans are bound mostly by our beliefs and ideals, rather than a shared ethnic or cultural history.  The ‘melting pot’ metaphor is being replaced by new metaphors like ‘salad bowl’ or ‘mosaic’, which suggest an integration that preserves each culture’s unique qualities rather than promoting one homogenous culture. Photographs in the series were taken at cultural festivals and celebrations in America, where heritage and traditions are taught, celebrated and remembered.  For some, these customs are a way to connect with their past; for others, they are a way to understand and embrace other cultures. I believe we can all benefit from the beauty and wisdom of myriad cultures and age-old traditions as we try to build a pluralistic society. I started my project two years ago when I was researching my family heritage to understand my American identity. However, I feel my project has taken a much greater meaning in the current social and political climate. With intolerance on the rise both in the US and worldwide, it is important to mend racial and cultural divisions with empathy and understanding towards one another and not let our differences divide us. This series was inspired by hand-colored tintypes of Americans from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. My photographs are digitally processed and printed on aluminum to create a modern variation of the classic tintype process.