Whitman, Alabama May 8 – December 12, 2021
“I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”
So begins “Song of Myself,” one of American poet Walt Whitman’s most famous poems. Originally published in 1855 as part of his work “Leaves of Grass,” the poem is a joyful celebration of the diversity of America and a meditation on our connectedness to one another. “Whitman, Alabama,” an ongoing documentary project by filmmaker Jennifer Crandall, brings Whitman’s words to life through the voices of modern-day Alabama residents. For two years, Crandall traveled through the state, inviting every- day people to recite verses from Whitman’s poem on camera. The outcome is a collection of captivating portraits, and a compelling reflection on American and southern identity. As the people in “Whitman, Alabama” recite lines of Whitman’s poem, they also share intimate glimpses of their lives on video. The juxtaposition of poetry against the backdrop of everyday, human experiences — sitting with family on front steps, doing chores around a farm, attending football practice — results in a series of videos that are both unexpected and mesmerizing. Crandall, who previously worked for the Washington Post and Salon as a video producer and journalist, began working on “Whitman, Alabama” while she was artist in residence for the Ala- bama Media Group. She said, “I came up with the idea of making a
series of portraits hoping to show off Alabama’s people – but instead of using a traditional interview format, I wanted to use a poem as the common thread. And beyond that, let people speak for themselves.” To learn more about the project, visit www.whitmanalabama.com.
Curator: Callan Steinman, curator of education
Still from Jennifer Crandall’s “Whitman, Alabama.” Jennifer Crandall at work.
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