Nonprofit

You're US

Berkeley, CA | www.youreus.com

About Us

You’re US uses arts and craftsmanship to provide an equal representation of modern Americans, displaying people’s distinctive character while searching for qualities found throughout the nation.

Centering Objectives

  • To use the traditional art of painted portraiture, accompanied by oral and written biographies, to celebrate America’s diversity and search for its underlying character.You’re U.S. will make every effort to ensure that this unique opportunity is made possible to people throughout the nation so that the U.S. people may be equally represented.
  • To promote national investment in America’s craftsmen, and inspire pride in the quality of U.S. goods by using American-made artisan materials (paint, brushes, bicycle).
  • To create an engaging and accessible public archive of U.S. people and their histories, an archive that provides diverse opinions and honest representations of those documented.

What we do

You’re US launched Spring 2011. Over five years Emile B. Klein will bicycle across America’s 50 states to observe, interview and paint portraits of Americans, staying with them as they live their lives. Each subject will be given their portrait in exchange for providing room and board. A special relationship is formed when painting a portrait from life, a relationship that will allow You’re U.S. unique insight into the subject’s life. Klein plans to paint 150 lasting American impressions. Chris Hoff, an oral historian, will create audio biographical profiles of each subject from interviews conducted by Klein during the portrait painting process. You’re US’s literary staff will write a biography of the subject based on these interviews, as well as Klein’s portrait. You’re US will enlist one intern per state to build local community relations. In each state, Klein will give talks highlighting portraiture and the great tradition of American craftsmanship. A new set of the visual, audio and literal portraits will be published online monthly. Annually, the paintings will be collected and coupled with their audio and literary counterparts for a traveling exhibition to be shown in public spaces throughout the country.

You’re US uses arts and craftsmanship to provide an equal representation of modern Americans, displaying people’s distinctive character while searching for qualities found throughout the nation.

Centering Objectives

  • To use the…

Issue Areas Include

Location

  • Berkeley, CA, United States
Illustration

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