|
Artist Statement
Patriot's Day is a photo-journalistic exploration of patriotism in suburban America. Photographed in Lexington, MA on Patriots' Day, the town's most important historical holiday and celebration of the Revolutionary War, these images offer an intimate glimpse at Revolutionary War reenactors and the crowd who gathers to watch them perform.
Though Patriots' Day is an ongoing project, all of the photographs that you see here were taken on April 21, 2008. The reenactment itself is a fascinating event but I chose to focus mostly on what goes on behind the scenes. Before dawn, we see Henry Liu's annual tradition of visiting the gravesite of John Tidd, the historical figure he portrays. Many of the participants in this event find these traditions to be profound and personal.
Colonial fashions and behavior can seem comical in modern situations, such as the sight of the Redcoat traveling in a yellow school bus. The juxtaposition of history and contemporary life is very evident as one watches the younger reenactors daydreaming in a tree and on the grass - I wonder if they are thinking of fighting a war of independence, a war on terror or, more likely: girls, college applications, video games, and Facebook.
Patriot's Day is an important holiday for many in New England. For me, it is not only a reminder of my hometown's heritage but also a clue into modern views on war and patriotism.
Artist Biography:
Francine Daveta is a New York City-based freelance photographer. While growing up in Lexington she studied photography with Jack Zichitella at Lexington High School. After receiving her degree in Cinema & Photography from Ithaca College she moved to New York City to pursue a career in the fast-paced world of free-lance photography. Now, specializing in editorial and commercial portraiture, her work has appeared in many publications such as Vanity Fair, Surface, The New York Times and Rolling Stone.
With a background that includes portraiture, fashion, music, events, still life and interiors, Francine has been able to diversify in a large city market. Though her primary passion lies in taking pictures of people, she is always interested in working with new clients in various industries.
Francine has also appeared as a photographer on TV Land's hit reality show, "She's Got The Look".
|
