photos by Scott Bolden
A kaleidoscope of qualities of the United States seen through the eyes of an American expat.
You're supposed to stand behind a nation when it
suffers a misfortune of this magnitude, but here the "misfortune" is so
hard-wired into the American system, the American way of life, that
you'd be standing behind the problem, taking off your hat in honour of
the problem, remaining, for two minutes, silent about the problem while
the problem lays a floral wreath at the fresh grave of the problem.
-Nathan Fuhr/Momus
It's very comfortable to live in a rich country. You
can almost always find a nice public bathroom (at McDonald's). I
secretly enjoy being a rich American. For example, I have so many nice
shoes. Most of them were not made in the USA. Sometimes it's fun to
shop and buy a bunch of random stuff. Even poor people here have a fair
bit of stuff. Homeless people have stuff. In other countries sometimes
I«ve seen people who literally have almost nothing. So even
when we are poor we're kind of rich. It«s weird. But despite
the guilt I confess to liking it. I don't want to give up being
comfortable, I just want other people to be warm and comfy and well fed
and have pretty shoes, too. I'm so shallow.
-Mary DeCoster, Rachel's Mom
For more texts visit the Skizum Studios Blog
Direction and performance: Rachel Brooker
Video: Chris King
Performed to date at the Das Pumpwerk Jubiläum and Ladyfest Berlin
For more information, email Rachel Brooker, or join our mailing list.
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