Barbara Peacock’s “James,” from the American Bedroom portfolio.

 

In response to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and local closings, the Maine Museum of Photographic Arts in Portland began creating the online series MMPA Antidote, which includes photographic artwork, audio interviews, and artist statements and reflections from Maine artists, aimed to serve as inspiration during times of isolation.

This issue features work by Barbara Peacock.

In 2017, MMPA exhibited the beginning of this portfolio, American Bedroom,” writes MMPA director Denise Froehlich. “Barbara Peacock received a Getty grant to travel the country and make pictures of people in their bedrooms. She’s been at this project ever since, and the work has become a very up to date portrait of contemporary America. We are proud to share new work from this on going endeavor.”

In her own words: “American Bedroom is a cultural and anthropological study of Americans in their private dwelling: their bedroom,” Peacock writes. “The nature of the project will be portraits of individuals, couples and families that reveal the depth of their character and spirit. My interest lies in the poetic resonance of ordinary subjects much in the convention of our forefather of the documentary tradition, Walker Evans. I follow his practice of photographing commonplace subjects, working class Americans, beneath notice and yet the very fabric of our nation. I am passionate but not sentimental about America. I am drawn, as Evans was, to the quiet, magisterial beauty of people half lost in memory, with too much time on their hands or in silent paradox. I argue and persuade that these subjects matter.”

Published bi-weekly, Antidote features contemporary photographers and interviews with industry experts.

Visit www.mainemuseumofphotographicarts.org to view the most recent issue.

Investigate the links, share the images, and send some of your own to contact.mmpa@gmail.com.