Kathy Shorr - Limousine
Lazy Dog Press, ISBN 9788898030767,
Hb, 96 pgs, 21 x 26cm
Acqn. 36453
Awaiting stock
£30.00
Hb, 96 pgs, 21 x 26cm
Acqn. 36453
Awaiting stock
£30.00
Kathy Shorr's work draws from two distinct photographic traditions: the road trip and studio portraiture. Just as families once visited a photographer's studio to capture special occasions, Shorr's subjects stepped into the limousine dressed in their finest attire, ready to experience and immortalize unique moments. This blending of genres is reminiscent of narrative projects like California Kiss by Elliott Erwitt, where the road becomes the main character, and each journey tells its own story.
Born in Brooklyn, Shorr developed a deep love for driving at a young age, purchasing her first car at just 17. This passion was rooted in her childhood, a time when owning a car was a rare luxury in her neighborhood. Her admiration for her grandmother's independence-who was the only family member to own and drive a car-instilled in Shorr a sense of determination and freedom. After graduating from college, Shorr found work as a limousine driver, turning this job into something exceptional: a mobile photography studio.
For nine intense months, Shorr photographed a kaleidoscope of passengers, each with their own story, heading to significant events such as weddings, proms, quinceaneras, and other celebrations. The luxurious interior of the limousine, with its refined and private atmosphere, became an intimate stage where people, often from modest backgrounds, could feel like stars, even if just for a moment. This fusion of travel and portraiture made each shot a unique experience, a moment where the apparent luxury of the vehicle allowed passengers to celebrate their personal milestones in a setting that intertwined mobility and photography.
As historian Chris Lezotte points out, while women have often been perceived as unable to master complex machines like the automobile-sometimes seen as a "mechanized beast"-they have continually challenged gender stereotypes, using cars as symbols of autonomy and empowerment. Shorr's grandmother, with her Chevy, embodied this daily defiance: for her, the car was more than just a vehicle for family outings; it was a tangible symbol of freedom and independence. Similarly, Kathy Shorr, in her dual role as photographer and driver, turned the car into a tool for celebrating life and documenting the beauty of human diversity, offering both herself and her passengers a journey rich with meaning.