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Artist Statement:
TATTERED
Investigation of an American
Icon
Photographs by Seth Butler
Artist Statement
Tattered is a documentary
photo essay investigating the
principle identity, misuse,
commodification and
desecration of the American
flag in the context of the
U.S. Flag Code. From Ground
Zero to Iwo Jima to the
surface of the moon, the
American flag stands as the
most ubiquitous, evocative,
and complex symbol of
America’s self–image. World
events have recently led to a
surge in public display—and
desecration—of the flag, and
redoubled interest in the
nation’s chaotic psychology.
During the past six years, I
have traveled America to
collect these monuments to our
modern pathos.
In a country so mighty, it is
curious how we treat this
famous flag—so emblematic of
our pride and patriotism—with
such gross neglect. The
integrity of the American Flag
now reveals frequently
recurrent clues about the
nation's social, political,
economic, military, and
religious heritage while it's
many representations reflect
our now color coded political
divide. Hiding behind this
nervous state of heightened
nationalism are sad
suggestions of America's
future. If we are searching
for who we are, America, we
can find no better point of
...
Further Information
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Artist Exhibitions:
Selected Exhibitions
2005
Caps and Straps group
exhibition, Voice 1156 San
Diego, CA
2004
TATTERED solo exhibition,
Liquid Gallery Portland, ME
HOW SOON IS NOW? group
exhibition, Studio Soto
Boston, MA
TATTERED solo exhibition, the
Waiting Room Burlington, VT
NICE ART group exhibition, The
Village Fare Manchester, VT
2003
[put...
Further Information
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Artist Galleries:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Reviews:
Coming Soon!
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Collections:
Coming Soon!
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Commissions:
Coming Soon!
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Seth Butler Biography:
| Biographical information for Seth Butler can be found below. The artist may choose what information to display. Sometimes the artist chooses not to display personal information to the general public. |
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Age
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28
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| Gender |
Male
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| Status |
Single
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| Children |
99
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| Religion |
not provided |
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| Education |
Bachelor of Fine Arts |
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| Hobbies / Interests |
not provided |
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| Favorite Artistic Medium |
Photography Other
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| Favorite Arthistory Movement |
Postmodernism - (1975 - )
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| Favorite Visual Artist |
Caravaggio
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| Favorite Work of Art |
Pieta
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| Biggest Artistic Inspiration |
Steve McCurry |
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| Why Did You Become An Artist |
not provided |
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| Your Personal Biography |
Seth Butler was born in 1979 in Beverly, Massachusetts and raised in Barnard, VT. As a boy, he found an acute interest in photography inspired by his grandfather, Curtis Tuttle, who spent hours in the secrecy of the darkroom making pictures for the family. At the age of twelve, his grandfather handed down to him a camera and opened up the once-forbidden alchemy of the darkroom. By age thirteen, Seth was mixing chemistry, processing film and printing his first pictures of friends skateboarding.
Coincidentally, Seth returned to Beverly a year after his high school graduation to attend Montserrat College of Art on scholarship. There he undertook formal study of photography, gaining a broad appreciation for the medium through its history of decisive moments, as well as learning to trust his intuition as a documentary photographer. After receiving a Merit Award in Photography and pursuing the project Tattered as his senior thesis, Seth graduated from Montserrat cum laude with a BFA in 2002.
For the last five years, Seth has been intermittently working as a freelancer and traveling America to continue photographing for the project Tattered. His most comprehensive photo essay to date, Tattered investigates the desecration and misuse of the American flag in the context of the U.S. Flag Code.
Most recently, Seth found work in Manhattan as the Imaging Studio Manager for world-renowned photographer Steve McCurry, with whom he continues to consult--now producing, teaching and managing photo workshops with Steve McCurry Workshops. Late in 1999, Seth co-founded the critically acclaimed magazine the journal--a publication focusing on contemporary youth culture--for which he worked as publisher and art director through 2006. He also spent a stint as Photo Editor for the regionally notorious Eastern Edge snowboard magazine. His photography is collected privately throughout the United States, has solicited praise in national photo competitions and has recently been published in several major periodicals. Currently, Seth resides in Vermont and Manhattan, working as a freelance photographer. He is available for feature and special assignments. |
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