Jason Lindsey: FRAYED DREAMS UNDER STARS AND STRIPES

Jason Lindsey: FRAYED DREAMS UNDER STARS AND STRIPES by Aline SmithsonNovember 12, 2024

©Jason Lindsey, from FRAYED DREAMS UNDER STARS AND STRIPES

The evolution of the American flag is interesting. In these difficult times, it seems that one political party has used the flag to announce their patriotism and candidate, but as we all know, the flag is for all Americans. Last summer, my husband and I drove across country and the flag was a ubiquitous companion on our journey (as was Jesus) and it made me consider the significance of this emblem that has become so charged in recent years.

Photographer Jason Lindsey has been creating a country wide typology of the stars and stripes, allowing him to consider this symbol in a variety of incarnations. As he states, “This is an exploration of the American dream in all its forms, a recognition of our shared journey towards an ideal that, despite its elusiveness, continues to unite us in our diversity and drive us towards a better tomorrow.”

©Jason Lindsey, from FRAYED DREAMS UNDER STARS AND STRIPES

Jason Lindsey is a Midwest-based photographer and filmmaker working to interpret science and the human impacts and relationship to the natural world. Lindsey considers himself a poetic activist using his art to drive social change.

Lindsey received his BA in Fine Art from Illinois State University. Lindsey has a 20-year career in advertising and editorial photography with a continued focus on Fine Art Photography. Photo assignments have taken him from the jungles of the Amazon, the Glaciers of Iceland, the Wilds of Alaska, and the waters of Belize. Lindsey is currently the Artist in Residence at Prairie Rivers Network and has photographs in a United Nations Climate Change and The Climate Museum exhibit in New York City and another United Nations exhibit in Paris.

He has been featured in PDN, Communication Arts, and Archive Magazine and was named one of the top 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Lindsey’s book “Windy City Wild: Chicago’s Natural Wonders” was published by Chicago Review Press.

https://www.instagram.com/jasonlindseyphoto

©Jason Lindsey, from FRAYED DREAMS UNDER STARS AND STRIPES

FRAYED DREAMS UNDER STARS AND STRIPES

Coming from a liberal perspective, I believe the American flag must remain a symbol for all people, regardless of their political path. This understanding shapes my exploration of how this powerful emblem reflects our collective story.

In this photography project, I explore the profound symbolism of the American flag as a mirror reflecting the vast and varied landscape of the American dream. Just as a tapestry of traditions and protocols binds the flag—dictating its display, folding, and retirement—so too is it emblematic of the ideals and aspirations that define the nation. These guidelines present the flag in its most dignified form, mirroring the collective hope for America to embody its finest virtues.

Yet, inherent in the fabric of this symbol is a recognition of our shared humanity. Weathered and worn flags continue to fly—not as a mark of disregard but as silent testaments to lives rich with intention yet intercepted by the realities of existence. This dichotomy between aspiration and reality echoes the American dream: a concept as diverse and multifaceted as the people chasing it. For some, this dream is a vivid reality; for others, it remains an elusive shadow.

Through my lens, I capture the flag in all its iterations—from pristine to tattered, from the affluent suburbs to the forgotten corners of urban decay. Each image serves as a narrative, a story of struggle, hope, and the enduring spirit of a nation. The diversity of the flags’ conditions and settings speaks to the diversity of the American experience itself, a reminder that while we may strive for a collective ideal, our paths and outcomes vary greatly.

Reflections on progress and potential: this project is an ode to the complex beauty of America and its people. It is a visual dialogue about our nation’s ideals, challenges, and the enduring spirit that propels us forward. Through the varied states of our flags, we see the true face of America: resilient, hopeful, and beautifully imperfect.

In capturing these flags, I aim not just to document but to provoke thought, ignite empathy, and kindle a shared sense of purpose. This is an exploration of the American dream in all its forms, a recognition of our shared journey towards an ideal that, despite its elusiveness, continues to unite us in our diversity and drive us towards a better tomorrow.