“THE BARNS by THE BARNSTORMERS”





This is a photo story about tobacco barns painted by the artist collective “The Barnstormers” in a small town called Cameron, North Carolina.



The Barnstormers, the New York / Tokyo based artists, would travel to this tiny town where the population is less than 300 in the middle of old tobacco fields every once in a year since 1999. Each time 20~30 artists painted the barns, many of them were not used anymore, that were offered by local community with very warm supports. It was almost like the art oasis that suddenly emerged in the middle of nowhere, and many track drivers and local farmers are enjoying these art installations when they drive through. Many of the Barnstormers crews exhibit their solo or group shows nationally and internationally, but this barn-painting project was totally pure joy and expression of their art instinct, not for money or fame. The color of painted barns is gradually fading now, but they are still there with some kind of dignity of aging, and becoming the part of real landscape in the old tobacco fields in rural southern state.



I photographed this photo story as unique landscape mixed with urban street arts in the summer of 2002.



“THE BARNS by THE BARNSTORMERS” was self-published in 2008 as only 100 copies limited edition.



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GION