Deborah Schoen - Weekly Post 14

Curran Hatleberg

New York photographer Curran Hatleberg is known for his documentary style community landscapes that represent the struggles within the American working class. Hatleberg’s images point to the psychological effects of economic and social decay and the day-to-day realities of those environments. He finds brilliant and ironic situations that depicts hardship, conflict, and subtle aggression, all of which challenge the soothing idea of the American dream.

A couple sits side-by-side and looks dazed. A father and son sit together yet facing outward and unengaged. An unearthed tree is lined with old potted flowers that have fallen off a casket. Two yards are at odds with each other. All of Hatleberg’s compositions are tight, tension filled, and show the push and pull of togetherness that is apparent in these tightknit communities. Hatleberg’s images are vivid and striking, which compliments the rich context and complex situations.

I could stare at Hatleberg’s work all day and find something new every hour. Hatleberg’s images carry a sense of sadness and hopelessness that is bottled up, in constant flux, and ready to burst. A couple sits together sharing a smoke to end a possibly stressful day, while the joyful presence of puppies has warn off and the responsibility for them has added more stress to their lives. In the image of a father and son sitting on the outside steps of their home, there is a mirroring of postures that feels inevitable that the son will grow up just like his father. The boy’s hands unknowingly mimic the father’s hands and they both carry the same stoic expression that seems to be frozen in time. Meanwhile, the image of the rotted tree and the clutter of past visits to the cemetery feels like the family has died with the deceased. Lastly, Hatleberg’s image of two backyards joined together conflict between the pristine and the wild. On the left, the home has newer siding, a freshly mowed and manicured lawn, and potted plants lined up neatly. Meanwhile, the other yard presses against the dividing fence, almost challenging it with its wild grass and creeping flowers. The dilapidated duplex in the background enhances the rawness of the situation.