The Shop is a community based documentary photography project by photographer Brandon Fiege as a part of his thesis at the State University of New York at New Paltz. The project consists of a collection of photographs and interviews surveying the often under-appreciated craftspeople of the Hudson Valley and their workspaces. Brandon is interested in these people for their ambition, determination, and values often consistent among this community.

The inspiration for this project stems from Brandon’s upbringing with his grandfather, who was a small engine mechanic, delivery driver, NYPD officer, Navy sailor, general store manager, film projectionist, business owner and entrepreneur. The goal of The Shop is for Brandon to find a sense of his grandfather in these people.

Images

Exhibition

After nearly six months of planning, designing and building, The Shop was completed as an interactive installation on display in the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. The installation itself consists of a 4x8’ tool pegboard, made to mimic a scene found in an actual shop. The board features dye sublimation aluminum prints of some of the images from the project, coupled with headphones playing back the interviews of the subjects. The result was a multi-sensory experience that immersed the viewer in the shop worker’s world, hearing their stories in their own words.