AMERICA'S HOMECOMING

For some towns, it’s a tradition going back a century, for others, a more recent addition to bolster an area. All across America, communities celebrate their shared histories and customs. Whether it be a parade, carnival or county fair, these festivities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds. 

These small town-affairs rarely make the national news, but they’re incredibly important to their communities. In true American fashion, almost all involve some form of competition. Smaller human triumphs are honored through friendly contests – the best float in the parade, the queen of the fair, the prize cow. These events honor the essence, however flawed, of American culture.  

Most of these festivities have their origins in agriculture, once the undisputed backbone of our economy. They were a display of economic power, of the resources of a huge country with fertile land. The economic power has moved away from rural areas, leaving these communities feeling overlooked. Yet, these events offer a sense of pride.  

In a nation that, culturally, has many regions within its borders, these events are a rare collective ritual where Americans celebrate our national symbols and what once unified us. What has held our country together, despite its regional divides, was often the illusion that America represented something more than just a country, it was an ideal. 

This work is on-going.