© Robert Kalman
“What’s It Like for You to Be an American?” is an ongoing project by Robert Kalman, and he is seeking help.
I’ve been wondering what Americans think of themselves in these fraught, divisive times. What is their (and our) sense of identity as Americans? So, I went out into the street and asked, “What’s it like for you to be an American?” and invited my subjects to answer on a single notebook page. Their responses proved to be a mix of sincere, emotional expressions: pride, deep ambivalence and even shame.
I made their portraits with a large format 8×10 camera, positioning individuals identically, in a formally structured way. The result is a series of closely related images of distinctly diverse American faces. I was aiming for a type of democracy expressed through portrait photographs. From many, one: e pluribus unum.
“In terms of guidance, we need place-specific information on where we are likely to encounter a decent amount of pedestrian foot traffic throughout the day. In our experience, diners, restaurants, farmers’ markets and grocery stores are good possibilities, but it helps to have information locating them. Green spaces like public parks are also likely areas, as are any other places in the city where people tend to congregate. Any assistance you can give us will be immensely helpful.” Email Robert if you can help.
Oklahoma City
Amarillo
Lubbock
Abilene, TX
Shreveport
Vicksburg
Memphis
Lexington, KY
Louisville
Columbus, OH
San Francisco
Anywhere on the Pacific coast between LA and SF and SF and Oregon