Guantánamo Bay Still Life
The other side of Gitmo.
From an exhibit at the Civilian Art Projects in Washington, DC. February 13 – March 14, 2009.
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On this small spit of land, approximately 45 square miles held in a perpetual lease by the US military, actors from the world stage converge: American interrogators attempt to wrest information from Muslim "unlawful enemy combatants;" Jamaican and Filipino guest workers are imported by contractors to serve food, cut hair at the barbershop, and wash the laundry; and on the base’s residential streets that resemble an American suburb, a handful of Cuban families who fled Castro's takeover of the island live out their days in exile. Against this backdrop, there are also strikingly mundane activities that take place: Children go to school, guards pick up coffee at McDonald's and Starbucks, and backyard barbeques are planned.
Restrictions by the military made making photographs of people at GTMO impractical, so I chose instead to photograph the environments that people create and inhabit rather than the people themselves, the stage sets rather than the players. –Christopher Sims
From an exhibit at the Civilian Art Projects in Washington, DC. Running February 13–March 14, 2009.
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Comments
nothing but good home cookin' for our torturer...eh...GIs
Submitted by Dean Taylor (not verified) on Wed Feb. 18, 2009 5:34 PM PST.
I wonder if the cafeteria is sound-proofed so that these delightful, true-blue American patriots won't have to be interrupted by the shrieks and screams of those pesky enemy combatants--not, at least, while they are in the middle of their "Savory Baked Chicken," or (Heavens to Betsy!)the "Beef Noodle Soup."
But then, torturing a fellow human being requires stamina, focus, etc.--hence the thoughtful menu...
Grand Theft Auto
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Feb. 18, 2009 5:44 PM PST.
I can't see the photos past the GTA side banner that stays above the new inset window.
what a wasted opportunity.
Submitted by tammy Deckman (not verified) on Fri Feb. 20, 2009 10:53 PM PST.
what a wasted opportunity. guantanamo bay is a beautiful area, in part due to the fact that it has been completely shutoff and underused. the natural environment is amazing. as far as the base itself goes, it was not so amazing, but surely there are more interesting photos to be had than these. these could have been taken most anywhere, it seems.
granted, i was there more than ten years ago, but i feel that there has to be more interesting things to capture now.
Guantanamo - symbol of
Submitted by lester (not verified) on Tue May. 12, 2009 1:35 PM PDT.
Guantanamo - symbol of injustice and arbitrariness. Secret detentions, tortures, transporting and indefinite detention violate the fundamental principles of human rights and undermine the security rather than enhance it.
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