he multi-media project “Embodiment: A Portrait of Queer Life In America” is a collection of 18 short films and 80 photographic portraits that represent the varied lives of Queer America today. Embodiment seeks to connect individuals from urban and rural areas and highlight a national experience in its many diverse, overlapping and, at times, conflicting parts. Beginning in 2004 as a solo photography project, Embodiment evolved into a multi-media collaboration in 2009 when photographer Molly Landreth teamed up with videographer Amelia Tovey and set out on a crosscountry road trip in search of individuals who would speak for themselves about what it means to be queer right now. Stopping in churches, parks, high school stadiums, back yards and bedrooms, Landreth and Tovey asked people to present themselves within their natural environments, living their everyday lives. With this ever growing archive of words, images and short films, the artists intend to change the way queer communities are perceived, and offer queer people all over the country a chance to speak for themselves.
Says Molly: “Embodiment: A Portrait of Queer Life in America is an archive and a journey through a rapidly changing community and the lives of people who offer brave new visions of what it means to be Queer in America today. Using large format photography and collaborative video interviews, this project moves beyond mainstream stereotypes and current buzz-words to introduce individuals from both urban and rural areas, highlighting a national experience in its many diverse, overlapping and even conflicting parts. As I engage with the connecting themes of love, religion, race, class, family, geography and gender identity, I seek to actively change the way queer communities are perceived, and offer individuals a chance to speak for themselves. This series reveals images of love, survival and a glimpse at the process of growing into one’s self. It acknowledges the complexity of relationships forged between diverse individuals as they creatively reveal subtle shades of gender expression and re-assemble the ever-malleable anatomy of a family. “
While traversing America’s big cities and back roads, Landreth captures the perspectives, daily lives, and intimate expressions of individuals who seek to represent what it means to be queer right now. By allowing the subjects to speak for themselves, the Embodiment collection depicts an authentic national experience. As the series is an ongoing project, Embodiment is ever-evolving and -with time- it is increasingly more resolved in the subtleties, shared experiences, and divergences it reflects. Originating in 2004 as a simple self-portrait project, “Embodiment: A Portrait of Queer Life in America” in 2009 has expanded to into a national archive and an international multi-media when photographer Molly Landreth teamed up with videographer Amelia Tovey and set out on a cross-country road trip in search of individuals who would speak for themselves about what it means to be queer right now. “Realizing after 4 years that I was missing a critical component of the story, I invited my friend, filmmaker Amelia Tovey, to create a series of short films which would allow the individuals in the portraits a chance to speak for themselves. In turn, the viewer would gain a deeper and broader understanding of these inspiring and complex people.” Photographs and videos are released episodically online, accompanied by personal statements.
Molly Landreth (USA, 1978) is a documentary and portrait photographer based in Seattle (WA) who explores concepts of identity and community by way of intimate largeformat film photography and multi-media collaboration. She is a contributor for the New York Times Magazine and OUT Traveler and has been recently featured on NPR and in The Advocate. In 2010 Landreth brought the visual language and empowered spirit articulated throughout Embodiment to several outside commissions; a new body of work for an exhibition curated by Martin Parr for the Brighton Photo Biennial being a highlight. Landreth holds an MFA in photography, video, and related media from the School of Visual Arts, New York and is available for editorial assignments, new projects, exhibition opportunities and personal commissions internationally.
Amelia Tovey is a New York-based Australian filmmaker whose work focuses on documentary realism, social commentary and live musical performance. Between 2009 and 2011, Amelia produced, directed, filmed and edited 18 short documentary films for Embodiment. She is the co-founder of Shoot The Player and has produced over 100 short music films with artists across Australia and the US. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film Theory and a Master’s in Screenwriting.
http://www.ameliatovey.com/
http://www.vimeo.com/
http://www.vimeo.com/
