Art Trying to Save a Nation's Splintered Soul
Maitland Art Museum feat. (Un)Common Bond: Portraits of US’ by Monica Jane Frisell and Adam Scher
The Maitland Art Museum constantly changes its galleries to present different kinds of art from different artists from all over the country, whether it be photography, painting, and even some video/audio enhancements to deliver the message. Part of the overall experience includes a small telephone museum, a small but informative historical journey through the evolution of the Sunshine State, and what appears to be a few private rooms for artists working on select projects. It’s a very inexpensive museum, a nice slice of old-school Florida vibes, and with a good tranquil space that’s away from the ever-growing hustle and bustle of Central Florida.
The (Un)Common Bond venue however was beautiful, and also very necessary during these trying times.
Traveling artists Frisell and Scher (you can support them here) journey throughout the United States and befriend everyday Americans while also documenting a piece of their lives, document their experiences, thoughts, emotions, and whatever else the subjects care to share. Reminds me a lot of the Humans From New York project, but it has a bit more depth because they go to other areas not internationally known, including Vermont and Washington (STATE). Also while Humans of New York is a bit more spontaneous, (Un)Common Bond appears more structured, more planned, and with more time spent with the individuals that will eventually be photographed and recorded.
What makes this project important and very crucial is that the United States has seemingly lost its morality through its voting actions, its post-pandemic habits, the upsetting trends, and even if the overall violence has diminished (although U.S. media doesn’t make it seem that way), the escalating financial violence from the upper class towards the poorer victims. All the problems this country faces in the 21st century as we have officially become wildly detached from the very successful Clinton Era has led to fights, confrontations, and disagreements among folks who should honestly be allies as we all have the same problems, desires, and fears.
Red State/Blue State is a conversation meant to anger and distract, the fake inflation raising prices when they don’t have to happen just leads to Americans being weary of each other while not realizing how massive and resourceful this country actually is. This project humanizes people from faraway parts of the country, it displays shades of people that’s easy to understand and sympathize with. This project shows how people are much more than just who they vote for what party they are affiliated with in a country that offers only two actual choices.
Yes we can criticize and judge some of the political decisions that they will eventually make, decisions that will affect others and sometimes even themselves in foot-shooting fashion. But the first step is remembering that they aren’t numbers, they aren’t opponents a vast majority of the time. First and foremost, they are people who are beloved by others, who have families, backgrounds, traumas, and their own unique experiences. I think this project showcases this beautifully, especially with their beautiful black-and-white portraits.
I know that I should be discussing more the Maitland Art Museum, since that has remained while the Portrait of U.S. has moved elsewhere, but I nonetheless wanted to dedicate many words to this beautiful project, and kudos to Maitland for accepting and presenting this project. We all know that art forms in Florida are under attack by extremist Christian nationalists polluting state politics while trying to make the rest of the country also drink the poison. With that said, we have to praise works like this that seek to unite and find commonality in a political atmosphere that’s built to divide, conquer, and constantly enrage.
The Maitland Art Center
231 W Packwood Ave, Maitland, FL 32751