This is such a great project I had to share it with you. A British photographer named Stuart Pilkington picked a photographer who lives and works in each of the 50 states and asked him/her to participate in a year-long project documenting their state. Called simply The 50 States Project, the photographers get six assignments spread out over the course of 2009. The first assignment was "People." On the website, Pilkington writes: "On 2nd January 2009, I sent all 50 photographers within the project the same task. I asked them to photograph one or more individuals whom they felt represented the state where they live."
The results are on view now and many of them are terrific. My favorites include the entries for Alabama, Montana, Vermont, Idaho, Missouri, and Kentucky's submission by photographer Sarah Lyon called "Just For Fun." Check it out (it's so Rushmore):
The next assignment given to the photographers is titled "Habitat." Results will be up on the 50 states website in May so check back there. Recommended companion reading: State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America. Edited by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey. Recommended companion listening: Sufjan Stevens and his two albums Illinois and Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State. Stevens is trying to write an album about each of the 50 states. That one could take some time.
