WE ARE – A Nation of Immigrants

A Portrait of America Project
A Monumental Public Art Installation in downtown New London, Connecticut

#poaWeAreNL

WE ARE by renowned photographer Joe Standart took to the streets of downtown New London on July 7 with a dynamic opening. Standart walked down State Street unveiling 18 of 28 murals placed on 16 different buildings. The exceptional project celebrates the region’s rich diversity and immense contribution immigrants make and have always made throughout the history of our region and country. The opening culminated with a celebration in the Atrium at Harris place hosted by MS17 Art Project.

Ten years after his Portrait of America: The New London Project received rave reviews, Standart returns to New London with a 10th year anniversary project consisting of two separate installations. WE ARE is the first installation and once again Standart creates powerful photographic portraits that enliven the downtown, delight viewers of all ages, and build stronger more cohesive communities. Standart’s oversized photographs of immigrant New Londoners will grace downtown storefronts with a temporary art installation transforming vacant buildings into works of art through December 1, 2016.

“Art can be a catalyst to community engagement and economic development,” said Standart, who has long focused his lens to inspire, change, and to bring communities together. “With New London’s history as one of the country’s oldest cities, settled by the first immigrants around 1646, this is the ideal place to mount an exhibit which promotes a discussion about the continuous renewal of energy and ideas immigrants have brought and continue to bring to our country.”

The murals, many measuring 8 feet by 20 feet, can be seen on State and Bank Streets are the result of a collaboration with, and a grant from New London’s City Center District. The commission’s intent was to use art to transform the way the city looks, attract visitors, further enhance the city’s reputation as a center for the arts, and instill a sense of pride by all who live and work in the area. The project was conceived with the help of CCD board member, Charlotte Hennegan, produced with Neff Productions and executed with the invaluable assistance of the Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern CT’s Alejandro Menendez-Cooper, and MS17 Art Project owner Migdalia Salas.

Part two of Standart’s 2016 work, The New London Project: Anniversary Portraits opens at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum on September 9th, 2016, and features the portraits of people photographed in the original project 10 years ago and re-photographed today.

The New London Project portraits are of the common man – people Standart encountered as he wandered the streets. Gallery owners, businessmen, artists, bakers, craftsmen, homeless people all populate the photographs with equal emphasis and importance. In both projects Standart calls out the uniqueness of New London, but at the same time points to the work as representing Any-Town USA.The project references the major themes and challenges faced by small cities
throughout the country.

The hashtag #poaWeAreNL is being used to help spread the word through social
media.