Carl Corey « Muybridge's Horse

Carl Corey

I saw some photographs from Carl Corey’s series Americaville shortly after the 2016 election. The selection on Lenscratch was edited for the occasion. I remember bookmarking the post with a note to return to it later. It’s been almost two years since then, and the group of images feels the same and different.

I recently messaged Carl asking if he’d like to have some photos from the series (or another of his projects that’s archived on his website, On View – The National Monuments, which I also like very much) featured on Muybridge’s Horse. He sent over a selection from Americaville that fits the theme of MH, and it still has that feel of the work the first time I saw it. There are no people, and I can’t help but feel like the animals depicted are looking out on their surroundings, watchful, nervous, on edge. America has certainly transformed since November 2016, but it feels like some places will always stay the same.

From the artist’s statement: One million seven hundred fifty seven thousand five hundred and sixteen (est), the current amount of miles I have driven in America while making cultural observations. I’ve met many people and seen many places. I’ve been in every state and province on the continent and every major and most not so major cities. I learned a lot, a real lot about people, places and histories. I learned America is big, diverse and very, very interesting. I learned to slow down and visit places longer, let them seep into your soul and share their knowledge. I learned to listen more. I learned to read a map. I learned about Kodachrome, Agfachrome, Fujichrome, Ektachrome. I learned about digital files and printing. I learned how to make books. I learned to be grateful when your work is awarded and collected. I learned sharing is much better than keeping. But mostly I learned that the more you know the more you realize you don’t know, and this is the foundation of “Americaville.”