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American Dreams

by Caroline Philippone
  

Jan. 14, 2020 – Feb. 28, 2020
High Low Gallery

“American Dreams” began in 2016, just after the presidential election, and immigration reform was at the top of many debates in the United States. As an artist I wanted to find a way to give a platform to the youth who were being impacted by the decisions being made and those who had a less active voice in the media.

For this body of work, I traveled to an underfunded school in middle America to take portraits of teenagers ranging in age 14-19. Although they came from many different countries, they shared the common thread of being English as a Second Language (ESL) Learners. They were seeking a better life and the elusive “American Dream” that is referenced so frequently by those in the United States.

As part of their studies in ESL, I asked each of the teens their name, birthday, native country, languages spoken, and then asked them to respond to the two questions “What Does America Mean to You?” and “What Do You Hope for Your Future?” These handwritten answers were digitized and etched onto glass sheets utilizing a laser cutter machine that is typically used for industrial manufacturing applications. The etched glass is then placed on top of the photo, and forms the unique obscurity to the image, which allows the teens to have a safe space to share their stories as both documented and undocumented immigrants of the United States. 

Press

Caroline Philippone: American Dreams
All the Art | Spring 2020