Laura E. Migliorino
The Hidden Suburbs: A Portrait
It is estimated that 1/3 of all Minnesotans now live in a suburb, but who are they?
The series of portraits seeks to reveal the diversity that exists in the outer ring suburbs
of Minneapolis and St.Paul. The images dispel the stereotype of the suburbanite and
challenge assumptions about suburban residents. When I think of suburbanites, I think
white, Christian, straight and Republican but these portraits tell a different story.
My interest in exploring the suburbs has evolved over the 20 years that I have commuted
from my home in South Minneapolis to work in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. I have watched
the farmland disappear and replaced with housing so uniform and controlled it is often
difficult to distinguish one from another. The spread of development impacts the
environment in multiple ways, reducing wilderness, wildlife habitat, and increasing
traffic and congestion. Beyond all reason though the suburbs continue to thrive and
expand, the notion of the American dream as a house in the suburbs is alive and well.
The Process
I am a photographer that hybrids the tradition of silver film with digital technology,
shooting slide positives then scanning into Photoshop. The final images are printed on
canvas emphasizing the historic tradition of the painted portrait. My approach to
photography is very painterly, an extension of my years as a printmaker and painter.
I came to photography late in my career and am largely self taught.
The complexity of the image with multiple layers, and frenetic composition
reflects the confusion of the suburbs and lack of good urban planning. This unsettling
feeling is intended, and hopefully will evoke a mix of positive and negative feelings from
the viewer. The juxtaposition of the happy, relaxed families with the swirl of activity is
symbolic of the conflicted feelings many Americans have about suburban life.