exhibitions
“Song of Myself,” one of American poet Walt Whitman’s most famous poems, is a joyful celebration of the diversity of America and a meditation on our connectedness to one another.
Whitman, Alabama May 8 – December 12, 2021
“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 everyday 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 iden - tity. 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 ev- eryday, human experiences — sitting with family on front steps, doing chores around a farm, attending football prac- tice — results in a series of videos that are both unexpected and mesmerizing. Crandall, who previously worked for the Washington Post as a video producer and journalist, began working on “Whitman, Alabama” while she was artist in residence for the Alabama 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.
Stills from “Whitman, Alabama”
Curator: Callan Steinmann, curator of education
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