America by Zoe Strauss

By: Juliann Costa

Biography• -Strauss was born in 1970 in

Philadelphia -Her photography experience consisted

of one photography class at a community college as a teenager

• -She was given her first camera at age 30

Background of Her Work -Mostly takes pictures in Philadelphia -Urban life

Shuttered buildings Empty parking lots Vacant meeting halls Portraits of residents

Accomplishments -“Under 1-95”; A 10 year long project

Copies sell for $5 -Executive Director for the Philadelphia Public

Art Project -Had her work shown in:

The Philadelphia Museum of Art The Philadelphia ICA The Bruce Silverstein Gallery 2006 Whitney Biennial The Institute of Contemporary Art

Awards -Seedling Award; 2002 -Pew Fellowship in the Arts; 2005 -USA Gund Fellowship; 2007

America -Started in the south Philadelphia region

where she is from Eight years, published in 2008

-After Hurricane Katrina -Mostly of people she met throughout the

country -Sad portrayal of America -Intimate photos -Unseen people and places

Project -Portrait, architecture, and photos of signage -Did not plan on this being a book -Expanse of American identities -What it means to be American -Philly compared to other parts of the country -How she sees America - Wanted project to come out the day of the

presidential election.

Kelley LindaLas Vegas, NV Philadelphia, PA

Merry Christmas HousePhiladelphia, PA

Together We Can Make Dreams Come True is True

Terre Haute, IN

RefrigeratorsOcean Springs, MS

Next Drawing PA National Guard GuardsmanPhiladelphia,PA

Sincere’s ArmNew York, NY

Art Showing Loaded RevolverCrystal, NV

Photo of Carlo’s Parents on his BedEl Paso, TX

Fist with CashGulfport, MS

Daddy Tattoo Monique Showing Black Philadelphia, PA Eye

How Do I Look?Philadelphia, PA

Significance of Project -Honesty toward subject and audience -Show another side of America

Contemporary life -Active engagement in the world -Real people dealing with real situations