The ease of capturing and creating images with cell phones has caused the disengagement of looking. Images are made so often and so easily that frictionless capture has encouraged carelessness in their making and in how we view them. By contrast, the images here are born from something else. Carefully selected frames and thoughtfully edited, asking you, the viewer, to look.
Matt Perrin
A dedication to preserving the of the ever fading light that is American history. Telling the stories untold in the history books found in schools today, my photography collection captures the lifeblood that is true Americana in its purest form. Unfortunately, as the landscape and society change in our great country, so much of this becomes lost in these transitional phases. But as times change I aim to create, through my photography, a window into the past that truly encompasses that which once was and will always be Americana at its purest form. Thank you.
An artistic photographer of many styles and genres, my work shares stories of the past, capturing moments of fading history and bringing them into the light for future generations to come.
Parker L.
The heat drenches the landscape and bleaches the old abandoned playground, yet my body feels so alive. Salty sweat drips from my brow to my lips, and my heartbeat pounds loud in my ears. Heat hugging close to every part of my body. I feel connected to nature as I walk and witness ways it has slowly begun to take over the abandoned “Hubcap Capital” of the world. It is in this liminal space where an old Americana has died and where a new one will be reborn from the desert soil. One where people are more rooted in the earth and with an understanding of the cyclical changes that like nature — we very similarly experience.
Parker L. is a digital and analog photographer telling cyclical narratives of life using nature and the body. She explores how these elements intersect with spirituality and culture in America.
Jason Bentsman
While traveling in Germany several years ago, right before the pandemic, I’d periodically come across places with lots of Americana memorabilia—strangely enough, particularly in environs and more rural areas—and otherwise very ‘German’ Germans who were Americana hobbyists.
Towards the end of the trip, in the purlieus of Heidelberg, I stumbled across a bright Diner, patterned after classic American diners, filled to the brim with Americana memorabilia, and thronged with suburbanites, who couldn’t seem to get enough of the ambiance and food.
It was almost like a museum. The collection of so much early to mid 20th century Americana memorabilia and iconography under one roof was impressive. Apparently, the owner had been collecting for decades.
The Diner itself was almost a caricature. Everything exaggerated, even more hyper-American than the most fantastic of American diners. Portions were tremendous. The servers seemed trained to almost insist on refilling the all-you-can-drink filtered coffee. Americana on steroids.
I’d also noticed this tendency to exaggerate and fetishize in the appreciation for Americana I’d observed throughout Germany.
To this day, still not entirely sure about the genesis of the preoccupation and the various factors informing it.
My good friend Matt, something of a Germanophile, speculates: “In so many ways, German culture and values are very different. It might have something to do with the American occupation after the war (we were the ‘good’ occupiers compared to the Russians), and then the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe.”
Whatever the reasons, it made for an unexpectedly extraordinary and kitschy dining experience. And, err, more than a hearty breakfast to start the day, leaving me out of breath 🙂
Jason Bentsman is a writer and fine art photographer. Works have appeared in The Brooklyn Review, the Offing, Mercurius, Tiny Molecules, The Montreal Review, The Cardiff Review, The American Bystander, The Amsterdam Quarterly, The Ilanot Review, The Weekly Humorist, LensCulture Online, F-STOP Magazine, and other art and literary publications worldwide. His poetic environmental nonfiction book The Orgastic Future has been called “A 21st-century HOWL” (A. Shoumatoff, New Yorker & Vanity Fair). www.linktr.ee/jason_bentsman.
Claudia D. Hernández
In my photographic journey, I am driven by a deep-seated desire to unveil the beauty and significance of mundane moments. With a discerning eye and a heartfelt connection to the subject, I am dedicated to shedding light on the rich tapestry of existence that unfolds within the communities of Central and South America. These are regions renowned for their vibrant and colorful landscapes, architecture, and cultures. The rich tapestry of hues found throughout these areas reflects the diverse histories, traditions, and natural environments that define each place.
Claudia D. Hernández is the author of KNITTING THE FOG, and WOMEN, MUJERES, IXOQ: REVOLUTIONARY VISIONS, which received the International Latino Book Award in 2019. Claudia holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University.
Michael Ricciardi
I am a multi-media artist working with hand-drawn, photographic (analog and digital), film/video (short format), and ‘mixed’ media (often ‘hybridizing’ analog and digital media). Much of my work utilizes Scientific (modern or historical) and Nature/Environmental concepts and themes. I also like to document found scenes/objects and ‘every day life’ in its myriad manifestations.
Salem, Mass.
Plymouth, Mass.
Michael is an experimental poet and multi-media artist who traverses the analog and digital realms. He has exhibited his drawings, photo and video art nationally and internationally (and virtually). Michael lives in Seattle, WA, USA.
Jason Baldinger
These photographs were taken on a cellphone and utilized reflections from glass windows somewhere in America. Most works are black and white as it draws out background details. I’ve taken to calling these photos live-action collage art.
Jason Baldinger is a poet and photographer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His first photography collection, “lazarus,” was just published by OAC Books.
the museum of americana: A LITERARY REVIEW 