A new photography exhibition featuring people photographed during three summer days at the Santa Monica Pier opens inside the historic Merry Go-Round building this month.
"Afterglow: Portraits by Sam Comen" will open with a special reception from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, during the Santa Monica Pier's Locals' Night. The free exhibition runs Sept. 10 through 30.
In July, photographer Sam Comen transformed a corner of the pier into a simple outdoor portrait studio and, over three days, conducted brief sittings with 274 people. Working in California's summertime light, Comen captured a cross-section of the people who found their way to the pier — locals, travelers and international visitors representing different ages, backgrounds and moments in life.
Alongside the portrait sessions, Comen invited participants into brief conversations about what brought them to the pier and how they see America at this moment. Together, the photographs and conversations offer a glimpse of America in its 250th year through the people who met at the edge of the continent as three summer days turned toward evening.
The location is an integral part of the exhibition's story. The Santa Monica Pier sits where Los Angeles meets the Pacific Ocean and marks the western end of historic Route 66.
"The Santa Monica Pier has always been a place where people from across Los Angeles and around the world come together," said Jim Harris, executive director and historian of the Santa Monica Pier Corporation. "Afterglow captures that beautifully. These portraits remind us that the Santa Monica Pier isn't defined only by its history and landmarks, but by the millions of people who bring their own stories, experiences and perspectives here."
Comen specializes in photographing human stories connected to American political and social issues. Over his 20-year career, he has collaborated with civic institutions, labor unions, foundations and community organizations. His photographs are held in the collections of the Library of Congress, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs' Art Bank, and his work has twice been exhibited at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. More of his work can be seen at samcomen.com.
"I chose the Santa Monica Pier because it's a place where so many different people and journeys come together," Comen said. "Taken together, these portraits reveal an America that is incredibly diverse, deeply personal and always changing."
The exhibition, presented inside the Merry Go-Round building at 200 Santa Monica Pier, is a collaboration with the Santa Monica Pier Corporation and was made possible by Art of Recovery, an initiative of the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Edited by SMDP Staff