BARBARA PEACOCK: AMERICAN BEDROOM Reflections on the Nature of Life

Cai and Claire - Ages 28 & 29. Bliss, Idaho 'Dismantle and rebuild (the urge to destroy is a creative urge, a natural reset) build a home in you, a home in me. Together home is always growing, always being redefined-dismantled, and rebuilt. We see each other; we make space for each other. And here, we are always safe inside.'

American Bedroom is a cultural and anthropological study of Americans in their private dwelling: the bedroom. The nature of the project is unguarded portraits of individuals, couples, and families that reveal the depth of their character, truth, and spirit. The images are paired with poetic and pithy quotes from each subject and are full of subtle details that invite us to contemplate the idiosyncrasies of each enigmatic life. The scoop of the project is the entire United States.

My interest lies in the poetic resonance of ordinary subjects, much in the convention of our forefather of the documentary tradition, Walker Evans.

I follow his practice of photographing commonplace subjects, working-class Americans, beneath notice and yet the very fabric of our nation.

I am passionate but not sentimental about America, as evident in my monograph Hometown. I am drawn to the quiet, magisterial beauty of people half lost in memory, with too much time on their hands or in silent paradox. I argue and persuade that these subjects matter.

I realized that I wanted to illustrate my love and influence of painting with this project. When I was a child, I watched my Mother paint by window light, and as a result, I have been drawn to painting and interior light.

Alexander and Grace Ages 26 & 28 - Denver, Colorado. 'We hold this together with our bare bodies, hands, and hearts. Lavishly and somewhat simple, we found this love between us one day, and we are grateful for it every day. '

Anna and Ruby – Ages 21 & 22 Portland, Oregon.