Purpletown election photo project update

(and Holiday Friends and Family Discount)

It’s been a busy time of travel for my Purpletown project - I’ve visited 13 new states for this project in 2023 (from Georgia to Washington and in between), photographing communities with ties or very thin margins in the 2020 US presidential election.

East Coventry, Pennsylvania, 0.44% margin, 18 votes difference out of 4,128 total

I’ve now worked on this project in 60+ towns and cities in 20 states, meeting people and exploring how they live together and do (or don’t) get along in this time of unprecedented polarization.

St George Island, Maryland, 0% margin exact tie out of 148 vote total

“We got to live together.” Sly Stone said it best in the hit 1968 song “Everyday People”. This sentiment inspires my current work. This is a bookend for my “Meetings” project of twenty years ago. The through-line is my curiosity about the flawed practice of democracy in America and how people in this country see themselves within governmental power structures.

Columbia City, Oregon -0.6% margin, 8 votes difference out of 1,395 total

We are one year away from a new election and the heat and friction seems turned up on everything, both at home and abroad. It’s an emotionally challenging time, and honestly- I do this work as a coping mechanism as much as anything else.

Junction City, Georgia 0.42% margin, 3 votes difference out of 722 total

I’ve been working on Purpletown for three years now, and am currently looking into publishing and exhibition opportunities prior to the 2024 election. I envision this work in the context of programing dealing with polarization and the upcoming political season. If you know of someone who could make that happen, give me a buzz! (email below)

Oak Harbor, Washington -0.76margin, 76 votes difference out of 9,954 total

It’s pretty difficult right now to connect to our joy, but I hope we can all find a bit of it in our hearts and with our friends and loved ones. That said, I wish you happiness and comfort in whatever fashion you mark the passing of time, the seasons, and anything else.

All best-

Paul

Have a question or comment, or just want to catch up? email me at paul@paulshambroom.com

Holiday shopping? Friends and Family Discount available! I've still got signed copies available of three of my four books (sorry, Face To Face WIth the Bomb.. is now sold out.) Artists' books make great gifts. 10% off all orders through Dec. 25, use the discount code FRIENDSFAMILY

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