The Paper Bag Project

Stefani Byrd

Life Sized C-type Prints mounted on Sentra Board with Recorded Audio Interviews.

2005-07

This photographic portrait series is of “closeted” members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community living in and around the deep South in the late 2000s. These individuals were forced to conceal their true selves as it pertains to their sexuality. Participants for this project were recruited off of the now defunct personals section of Craigslist. An add was placed online for those that wished to be photographed and to have the chance to share their stories about why they chose to remain closeted. Stories ranged from fears about losing their jobs, being disowned by their families, and not wishing to be divorced by their spouses who they still loved despite being sexually incompatible.

The images conceal and skew the subject’s identity via a mask which preserves their anonymity and also serves as a visual metaphor for the mask they must wear everyday in regards to who they are. The location of the photographs and a pseudonym, which is used as the portrait’s title, were chosen by the subjects. Recorded interviews with the individuals play on a loop via headphones which creates and intimate conversation between the audience and the subject. These stories are intimate confessions, many never previously shared with anyone, that the anonymity of the work allows them to share. The project is intended to build awareness about the issues that face these individuals.