ALLEGIANCE
As part of its ongoing commitment to showcase the fine art of
photography and promote the work of photojournalists worldwide,
a21 partnered with The Half King. Previously on
display was the work of Steve Simon documenting the concept of
patriotism in America – both pre and post September 11th.
Montreal native Steve Simon came to New York in
early 2001 on what has turned into an extended stay south of the
border. His work in Canada garnered him numerous awards including
the country’s highest awards in photojournalism, Canadian News
Photographer of the Year and Canadian Press Picture of the Year, as
well as the NAPA Gold Medal for Photojournalism and CAPIC Silver
Medal for Editorial Photography. The National Press Photographers
Association and the Alfred Eisenstaedt Awards competition have also
recognized Simon’s work in this country.
Simon specializes in portraiture and documentary photography. His
first book, Healing Waters [a look at a lake in Alberta known for
its curative powers], was published in 1995 by the University of
Alberta Press. Les Editions Internationales will release his latest
work, Empty Sky: The Pilgrimage to Ground Zero, this coming fall.
Among his recent clients are The New York Times, Colors, German
Geo, Saturday Night, Macleans, and People.
Steve Simon’s current long-term project examines
the concept of patriotism in the United States. It began as part of
another study on life along the Canadian-United States border, a
study exploring the fluidity of culture despite geopolitical
boundaries. The black-and-white images in Allegiance are from that
project while the exhibit’s color photographs are post-September
11th documentation from New York City.
Allegiance is defined as devotion or loyalty to a person, country,
or cause. Among its synonyms: are loyalty, devotion, steadfastness,
fidelity, and constancy. The American flag is a symbol of
allegiance, even more so now than the days prior to September 11th.
The flag represents the humanism that shaped New York during those
first few days and lingers still. The initial numb of the city gave
way to shock as we all, dumb-founded and bewildered by what
happened, struggled to find some sense in a senseless situation.
The Stars and Stripes became a marker for a horrific day in history
and says to the world, America is ready to do what is needed to
keep going.
The flag also became a dollar sign; it is for sale. It and other
symbols of patriotism like our new found heroes, the firefighters
and police, are memorialized and idolized on t-shirts, hats, pins
and pictures, available for cash or credit like everything else
here. Next to fire and police officials, nothing seems to have
responded faster to this tragedy than capitalism. The resilience
and determination of the United States is symbolized in the flying
of the flag. It has become a revived icon, saying without words –
“We will overcome and emerge stronger.”
Allegiance by Steve Simon was on display
through October 30, 2002.
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