1990 (negative); 2011 (print)

Untitled

American, born 1953

This picture is part of the Kitchen Table project, in which photographer Carrie Mae Weems acted out made-up stories about the life of a successful woman. Each scene in her story takes place at the head of a kitchen table, under the glare of a bright light. Weems’s characters enter and exit a room filled with props, similar to a play or movie set. Looking at these pictures, it feels like we have walked into the middle of a movie. The scene is emotional, but we don’t know why; time has passed, but we don’t know how much; conversations have happened, but we did not hear them. With minimal props and a handful of actors, Weems created a group of powerful images about friendships, relationships, and motherhood.