Paul Shambroom

In this work, artist Paul Shambroom depicts a local town meeting as part of his series, Meetings, of 1999-2003. As he has stated, “A common impulse in these projects is my quest as one individual to understand and illuminate seemingly overwhelming and abstract power systems. Although town council and community meetings are open to the public, the process of governance can still seem somewhat invisible and separate from the lives of ordinary people.” For Shambroom, these photographs “emphasize the theatrical aspects of meetings: There is a 'cast,' a 'set,' an 'audience' (sometimes), and a 'program' (the agenda). Seating arrangements, clothing and body language all provide clues to local cultural traits and political dynamics…. Power may be relative, but the mayor of a town of 200 has much in common with the President of the United States. We see ourselves reflected (either positively or negatively) in our leaders, exemplifying both the highest ideals and lowest depths of the human spirit. Our reactions to them help define our perceptions of our own place in society, as insiders or outsiders, haves or have-nots.”

Shambroom’s photographs were included in the 1997 Whitney Biennial and his work is in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Walker Art Center, among others. He is an Associate Professor in Art, University of Minnesota.