The Public’s School is a portrait photography project centered on the notion of public schools as essential to community building and belonging. 

Public schools are increasingly under attack. Annual budget and board member votes have become flashpoints to dismantle public education and weaponize manufactured controversies. Taxpayers question the value in supporting a district they have little personal connection to. Hate-fueled groups seek to exclude all but those they deem eligible for inclusion.

My portrait project seeks to refute those that act in antithesis to the common good. I aim to create an affirming portrait of the Corning-Painted Post School District, documenting those who build community, create belonging, and weave the tapestry that binds us all together.

In concert with my previous portrait projects From the Shadows and The Tradition Bearers, The Public’s School is part of a continued response to the normalization and elevation of the intolerance and divisiveness that seeks to reinforce and legitimize hatred.

The Public’s School features 46 portraits of students, teachers, staff, and local alumni and it will be on exhibit from November 4 - December 28, 2024, at the Southeast Steuben County Library in Corning, NY. A reception will be held Thursday, November 8, 2024 from 5-7pm.

The Public’s School is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, administered by fiscal sponsor The Rockwell Museum.