American Bedroom - reflections on the nature of life

American Bedroom is a cultural and anthropological study of Americans in their private dwelling: the bedroom. The nature of the project is unguarded portraits of individuals, couples and families that reveal the depth of their character, truth and spirit.

American Bedroom is a cultural and anthropological study of Americans in their private dwelling: the bedroom. The nature of the project is unguarded portraits of individuals, couples, and families that reveal the depth of their character, truth, and spirit. The images are paired with quotes from each subject and are full of subtle details that invite us to contemplate the idiosyncrasies of each enigmatic life. The scope of the project is the entire fifty US states.

The bedroom is not just a private place, but a sacred place. We build it as a shrine to our lives (even if houseless) and spend nearly one-third of our lives in it. It exemplifies our being; it is a place to rest, to love, to comfort, to be, to give life, to restore, to recover, to grieve, to lay sick and, to die. One thing is for certain, all lives are important, and everyone has a story to tell.

When physical doors opened to, me there was a veil of religion, politics, and ideologies that mysteri- ously and magically lifted. During the sessions with my subjects, what filled the conversations were the big things: Loneliness, loss, sorrow, regret, disappointment, re-awakening, self-awareness, wisdom, acceptance, contentment, and happiness. Perhaps because someone was there to listen, perhaps because the spotlight was finally on them. What appeared was the bare soul of a human life, a story, and purity of heart that rose like cream to the top. This is not a look at our differences—although there may be many—it is about our likenesses, our loves, our dreams, and all the threads of commonality that connect us as human beings.