Portrait of America™ initiates large-scale public art exhibitions to engage communities in a constructive dialog that triggers positive change. By installing larger-than-life portraits of a city, back to the city, all over the city, these exhibitions hold a mirror up to a community to reveal what’s already there–
the inherent dignity and promise of its people.
Portrait of America™ is more than photography. The exhibitions are fully interactive through audio, video, social media and mobile web components. POA also offers a youth photography program as part of its interactive process. The course culminates by offering students the opportunity to exhibit their work as part of the larger exhibition. These highly-visible, sprawling exhibitions act as a catalyst for local arts, cultural, and neighborhood organizations to launch associated programming. In partnering with local institutions, POA is able to achieve maximum impact.
The POA series began in New London, CT, in 2004, as a personal journey for artist Joe Standart, which grew organically as the community embraced his work. Capturing the imagination of city residents and tourists alike, the exhibition drew extensive press across the nation. The New London Project was a wildly popular community event, invigorating the community, boosting tourism, and helping to establish the city’s reputation as an up-and-coming center for the arts.
Due to its tremendous success, The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism awarded POA the Strategic Initiatives Grant to mount a similar exhibition in Hartford, CT, in 2010. Building on the momentum of the Connecticut Projects, Portrait of America has created a model to replicate exhibitions in cities all over the U.S.
Our next stop is New York City.
