Sheila Pree Bright is one of my favorite photographers--so smart and her work is so thoughtful and interesting.

Check out her upcoming exhibition, "Young Americans" (and her mySpace page)

And hey all you publishers out there--why are you sleeping on this artist?! Publish her!

The High Museum of Art, Atlanta

May 3 - August 10, 2008

Lisa Henry and Julian Cox, curators

UPDATED: Here's the press release: SheilaPreeBrightRelease.FINAL.pdf

Traveling to:

The Amistad Center for Art @ Culture at The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art before touring nationally.

Project Statement:

The Millennial better known as Generation Y, born in or after 1982 in the 20th century are the most influential generation since the baby boomers. Market research suggests Generation Ys who are in their mid 20s and younger are civic-minded and socially conscious as individual consumers and employees. They have been pressed for their vote, sought for their purchasing power and watched closely by sociologists and historians for insight into the way this generation will shape the future. As a group, they are unlike any other youth generation. They are more affluent, better educated, technologically savvy, blunt and expressive, image driven, and the most ethnically diverse. This is a rising generation who has grown up on the war on terror and the 1st Gulf war and who will be the next leaders to run this country.

In Young Americans I am exploring Generation Y's (between the ages of 18 to 25) thoughts and feelings about America, giving them a platform for their voice to be heard thru portraiture. I chose to use the American Flag as part of their apparel, because it represents liberty, freedom and pride in this country.

Before they come to my studio each individual was asked to think about how they would see themselves with the American Flag. Once they arrive at the studio we would sit down and talk about America and then shortly after they would write a written statement. Once they finished we began the shoot.

What I am experiencing as the observer/photographer so far is that this diverse generation is much more aware of the world because of the national tragedies such as 9/11 terrorist attacks, hurricane Katrina, and the immigrant issues which have given them their own brand of social consciousness. In Shawn's statement--who was born in Guam--he asked the question, “America…… wants to be on top of the world. I just wonder, when it comes time to fall, who will want to help?"