Jennifer Brommer
Growing up between two parents in both Memphis and NYC, my world was juxtaposed between my Mother's world, living in seedy and gloomy New York hotels-such as The Chelsea- and observing my grandmother's world in Memphis, Tennessee, filled with country clubs, maids, and chauffeurs. The project Memphis developed when I decided to explore my own discomfort in the world of my grandmother. I became intrigued by the importance my Memphis family placed on projecting a sense of wealth and social grace. Their notion that your home, car, and appearance were of the utmost significance ultimately drew me to photograph people in their home environments, and investigate the role personal objects play in the identity of her subjects. What emerged further was a view of race and class in Memphis, a view that both surprises with its unique nature, but is also surprising to me in its familiarity.