SAM COMEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Jesus | Dishwasher ” I’m from here, but I feel more Mexican than American. Me and my twin brother were born in Hollywood, but my parents are from Mexico, from Chihuahua, they came 25 years ago. I’m more comfortable speaking in Spanish than Engli

Working America

 

Exhibition — at The Chandler Museum

DATES: January 31 - May 21, 2023
CURATOR: Jody Crago & Tiffani Egnor
MEDIA: 40 photographs on Sintra with 1 HD monitor displaying 15 motion portraits and 1 short film

 

Public art installation — in Downtown Los Angeles

DATES: July 1—31, 2021
INSTITUTION: Los Angeles Music Center / Grand Park
CURATORS: Julia Diamond, director; Marty Preciado, program manager
MEDIA: 11 minute video piece incorporating 35 motion portraits and first-person quotes. On five screens sized 8ft x 5ft.

 

New Short Film:

Sam Comen’s ‘Working America’ was produced by Groundmaking, Inc, and directed by Reuben Herzl with cinematography by Anai Garcia. It runs 8 minutes. See it below:

 
 

— WORKING AMERICA —

 

STATEMENT: Walking and driving every day in my native Los Angeles, I look around and see an economically thriving microcosm of a multiracial, immigrant America. The Armenian-American shoemaker, the Korean-American tailor, the Mexican-American machine operator working the late shift in the last zipper factory left in the country. As the great-grandson of Eastern-European Jewish immigrants, I can’t help but think of 2019 Los Angeles as a contemporary analog to my forebears’ late 19th Century experience in Chicago and Boston. Not long after arriving in the U.S., my great-grandparents did garment piecework and sold sewing supplies. A hundred years and three generations later, through hard work and access to education, they were able to forge a path to stability and wealth, affording me the privilege to pursue a career as an artist whose job it is to examine, reflect and comment on American culture.

It’s with my great-grandparents in mind that I’ve come to question how, in light of recent anti-immigrant rhetoric stoking wide debate across the U.S., their story might still be relevant

today. Inspired by their work in the garment industry, I decided to consider immigrant-Americans and first-generation Americans through the lens of the “small trades,” re-engaging with the historical portrait approach that masters of photography Eugéne Atget, August Sander, and Irving Penn used to study national identity, work, and class in their own times.

To that end, I intend “Working America” to be a meditation on American belonging and American becoming. I’m curious if the national trope of hard work as a path to economic independence and inclusion is a reality. Is that path open to people-of-color? While I strongly believe the questions about race, work, and access that immigrants face in America today are both urgent and dire, my hope is for this series to, foremost, serve as a document of the lives and contributions these men and women continue to make to our country and to our collective experience.

 

Please note: to see motion portrait video work from this project, click here.

 
Jesus | Dishwasher ” I’m from here, but I feel more Mexican than American. Me and my twin brother were born in Hollywood, but my parents are from Mexico, from Chihuahua, they came 25 years ago. I’m more comfortable speaking in Spanish than Engli

Jesus | Dishwasher

”I’m from here, but I feel more Mexican than American.

Me and my twin brother were born in Hollywood, but my parents are from Mexico, from Chihuahua, they came 25 years ago. I’m more comfortable speaking in Spanish than English. My wife is also from here, and she speaks only English -- and I answer in Spanish.

It’s different for immigrants now. There are new laws, it’s harder to get here, everything is much more expensive. Many families don’t have any support in their countries. And then they arrive and don’t know anything. It’s not easy to get a job if you don’t have legal documents. It’s hard nowadays.”

Chris & Jenny | Booksellers Chris (Left): “ When my mom immigrated with her parents, it was about survival in a foreign place. My grandfather was a radiologist, and he came and opened a truck stop, making hamburgers. Jenny’s parents ended up

Chris & Jenny | Booksellers

Chris (Left): “When my mom immigrated with her parents, it was about survival in a foreign place. My grandfather was a radiologist, and he came and opened a truck stop, making hamburgers. Jenny’s parents ended up opening a liquor store, a fish market, a supermarket. Theoretically they did that so that we wouldn't have to do those things.

For us it's about survival as well. But I think it's frustrating that we're still considered immigrants or descendants of immigrants, because we're just...American.”


Jenny (Right): “We all want the same thing. We just want to make money and live and be happy with what you do. I don't think it matters like if you're born here or not. I feel like we just want to have a small place here that belongs to us.”

Gevorg | Orthopedic shoemaker “ This store helped me to survive here. For me, the most important thing is to help people. The orthopedics’ job is helping people move around. I see lots of people with feet so bad they can't even walk. That's why I

Gevorg | Orthopedic shoemaker

“This store helped me to survive here. For me, the most important thing is to help people. The orthopedics’ job is helping people move around. I see lots of people with feet so bad they can't even walk. That's why I love to help them, to do their everyday walking and helping.

It's really hard work. But when I see my work pay off for the customer, I'm very happy.”

Bryan, Jean Carlos, & Nestor | Carpet washers Bryan (Left): “ In the perfect picture, I would be powerful and rich. That's why I want to achieve more. But right now, the way I see it, it’s okay where I’m at. I just want to make it. I just don'

Bryan, Jean Carlos, & Nestor | Carpet washers
Bryan (Left): “In the perfect picture, I would be powerful and rich. That's why I want to achieve more. But right now, the way I see it, it’s okay where I’m at. I just want to make it. I just don't want to be asking for help and looking for people to carry me when I know I can do it.”

Nestor (Right): “I have strong roots from where I'm from. I cannot deny them. But I believe we're all Americans in some kind of way. We all contribute to the country. We’re all Americans.”

Esthela | Zipper machine operator “Instead of cursing and saying bad things about the President, what we need to do is pray to God for his enlightenment, for Him to change his heart.”

Esthela | Zipper machine operator

“Instead of cursing and saying bad things about the President, what we need to do is pray to God for his enlightenment, for Him to change his heart.”

Hisham | Set electrician “ I'm confident in the journey that I've gone through -- I know that I'm an American. I don't care what other people think an American is or not. What concerns me is that, by their actions, the president and the Republica

Hisham | Set electrician

“I'm confident in the journey that I've gone through -- I know that I'm an American. I don't care what other people think an American is or not. What concerns me is that, by their actions, the president and the Republican party have shown they’re for a white, Christian America. They're not for a melting pot.

But I’m confident that we will overcome this obstacle. And I'm actually really optimistic because I think that this moment is showing us what is really going on underneath the surface.”

Young | Tailor “ The idea of loving your neighbor and sharing the wealth with people is important to me. I think the U.S. is a country built upon this idea, and so I love it here. ”

Young | Tailor

“The idea of loving your neighbor and sharing the wealth with people is important to me. I think the U.S. is a country built upon this idea, and so I love it here.”

Miguel | Power tool mechanic “The one who dreams must fight for his dreams, because everything is achievable. I came here without knowing anything -- I couldn’t even grab a screwdriver. And now I’m a mechanic. This job has taught me a lot. It

Miguel | Power tool mechanic

“The one who dreams must fight for his dreams, because everything is achievable.

I came here without knowing anything -- I couldn’t even grab a screwdriver. And now I’m a mechanic. This job has taught me a lot. It makes me feel good to do the work.”

Antonio | Ranch Hand “ My parents taught me to always do better in whatever I do. And that California is a place of opportunity. Opportunity comes and you got to grab it, and don't let it go. You gotta ask yourself: what do you want? Do you want

Antonio | Ranch Hand

“My parents taught me to always do better in whatever I do. And that California is a place of opportunity. Opportunity comes and you got to grab it, and don't let it go. You gotta ask yourself: what do you want? Do you want to make something out of your life? Here are the tools. You just got to come and get it. That's my frame of mind.”

Charles | Art framer “ After I graduated I got a job working part-time at a frame shop. I used to work five days a week there — I’d even go in on my day-off because I enjoyed it. A year and a half later, my dad goes, ‘You can't work for what you'

Charles | Art framer

“After I graduated I got a job working part-time at a frame shop. I used to work five days a week there — I’d even go in on my day-off because I enjoyed it. A year and a half later, my dad goes, ‘You can't work for what you're working for. Find a location, I'll give you the money, and open.’ That's what I did. And I'm still here.”

Monica | African clothing tailor “You have to work hard, and you have to respect each other, trust each other, and learn day by day. Someone who’s coming now can make it if they listen, respect, trust, adjust and learn. They have better opportun

Monica | African clothing tailor

“You have to work hard, and you have to respect each other, trust each other, and learn day by day. Someone who’s coming now can make it if they listen, respect, trust, adjust and learn. They have better opportunities than we did.

I was able to go to school. And then they help you. If you are willing to learn, they will show you the way. Nobody is going to take a bribe or deprive you from your aspiration. And if you have that in mind that you're going to make it, you make it. Some people come, they don't even understand a single English word, but still they can go to school. It's all determination.

We’re all equal. Everybody has potential. Everybody has something to do, just for us all to be happy. Somebody can be cleaning the streets, somebody can sweep, somebody can be a lawyer. If everybody's a lawyer, who is going to sweep, who's going to be a nurse, who's going to sew the clothes?”

Pascual | Furniture caner “ At first when I came over here I wanted make a little money and go back my studies in Mexico. But I started liking dollars, and just kept working. I just kept weaving right here for 42 years. It's my first job and prob

Pascual | Furniture caner

“At first when I came over here I wanted make a little money and go back my studies in Mexico. But I started liking dollars, and just kept working. I just kept weaving right here for 42 years. It's my first job and probably the last one. I’ll just keep going until my life ends.”

Leonor & Elizabeth | Restaurant owners and employee, mother and daughter Leonor (Left): “I’m the owner of a vegetarian restaurant called Leonor’s -- I have been here almost 40 years. In Mexico, I never had anything, so I said, ‘I’m leaving

Leonor & Elizabeth | Restaurant owners and employee, mother and daughter

Leonor (Left): “I’m the owner of a vegetarian restaurant called Leonor’s -- I have been here almost 40 years.

In Mexico, I never had anything, so I said, ‘I’m leaving. I need to get by.’ My family never believed in me. I said, ‘I’ll get by, and I’ll have everything I’ve never had here.’ I am an example for my family, and for many people who knew me, who never thought I would succeed. That’s something I’m very proud of.

When I started out, the restaurant was worthless, but I knew I could make it grow. Of course, I worked a lot. I’ve never wanted to have much, but I’ve had it all. And my children always had all they needed."


Elizabeth (Right): “Oh my God, I tell people all the time that I am forever grateful for my mother. I've never learned what it is to struggle, I have no idea what it is to, you know, not have something and it's all been because, you know, because of my mother, she crossed over, she was a dishwasher, she got an opportunity. It's weird, I tell my kids every day now that, you know, to look at grandma and be grateful, because unfortunately my mother was never there for me, like through school, never was there when I won my awards. She missed half of my life.

Never was she able to attend. She almost didn't attend my high school graduation. And I kind of hated and resented her for that. And it was because she was at work. She was at work from 6am to 10pm.

And now I am able to attend every one of my child's sports. And it's because of her, I have everything. And it's because she struggled and I am forever grateful for that."

Othon & Mher | Glaziers Othon (Left): "My four-year-old daughter knows who Donald Trump is. My kids understand all of this. They know that we shouldn’t discriminate against people because of what they have or what they look like, because nob

Othon & Mher | Glaziers

Othon (Left): "My four-year-old daughter knows who Donald Trump is. My kids understand all of this. They know that we shouldn’t discriminate against people because of what they have or what they look like, because nobody is greater than anybody else, we all are the same whatever our skin color or religion. And if we can help someone we must, without expecting something in return.

The oldest, who is sixteen, was in therapy because with my immigration problems, because they came to my house to detain me and I was in custody for a week. His grades dropped and he was really worried about that. Even now that we are okay, he lives in a constant fear that someday they are coming back and we are going to be separated."

Mher (Right): "When I came from Beirut, I didn't bring anything. I start with zero. I have to work, to keep the family. Glass was a family business. I put a small ad on Yellow Pages and somebody called me, his name is Frank. I make a small job for him and he ask me ‘you have any shop?’ I say no. He say ‘follow me.’ I follow him to Kenmore and Hollywood, and he told me just stay here. He told me open the shop for three or six months, free. See if you can work. If you don't like, give it back, without money. I just say my God, he gave me the way to work. That's why I start my business, 1703 North Kenmore Avenue, 1986 April 24."

Rubén | Machine operator “ I live here alone with my two daughters -- I’m a single dad. I set an example of responsibility. That’s how you get by. I feel positive about contributing to the country. I work, I pay my taxes, we pay everything. And s

Rubén | Machine operator

“I live here alone with my two daughters -- I’m a single dad. I set an example of responsibility. That’s how you get by. I feel positive about contributing to the country. I work, I pay my taxes, we pay everything. And so I feel I’m helping.

I tell my family back in Mexico that everything is okay, but being far away from them is a little difficult. It’s hard, being away from your country. By having a job, though, striving to get by, everything is possible.”

Camilo | Ranch manager “ I’ve met a lot of people who have taught me, and I always pickup the good things that are going to help me. The bad things, I put them to the side. You never stop learning. I want to say to all my countrymen, not just th

Camilo | Ranch manager

“I’ve met a lot of people who have taught me, and I always pickup the good things that are going to help me. The bad things, I put them to the side. You never stop learning.

I want to say to all my countrymen, not just the Mexicans, but also those from Central America or other countries who come: “Yes, you can.” There are a lot of people from other countries who have their own businesses. When you want it, you give it your all. It is possible.”

Cynthia | Chef/server “Once you immigrate here, you find freedom, right? But it's like there's no freedom. I don't think it’s the American way, for ICE to come into a home and take a parent away. And if you have kids there? It’s pretty much mind

Cynthia | Chef/server

“Once you immigrate here, you find freedom, right? But it's like there's no freedom. I don't think it’s the American way, for ICE to come into a home and take a parent away. And if you have kids there? It’s pretty much mind-boggling. What's going on? It's sad. It's not humane at all. Once you're here, it gets harder.”

Alejandro | Baker “ I try to put in the effort required to try to seize opportunities, but it doesn’t come easily, since as an immigrant you have a lot of problems -- with documentation or X-factors. Every chance you get, you have to dedicate you

Alejandro | Baker

“I try to put in the effort required to try to seize opportunities, but it doesn’t come easily, since as an immigrant you have a lot of problems -- with documentation or X-factors. Every chance you get, you have to dedicate yourself 100% to learn to do better every time, so that there are fewer complications in the future, and there are more doors open for you.”

Victor, Jaime, & Kirstie | Tattoo parlor co-owners & apprentice (Kirstie)

Victor, Jaime, & Kirstie | Tattoo parlor co-owners & apprentice (Kirstie)

Concepción | Florist "When a person comes with goals and the intention of fulfilling the American Dream, yes, they can achieve it. Sometimes they don’t set goals and are just coasting. Had I come with another goal, perhaps I would already be spea

Concepción | Florist

"When a person comes with goals and the intention of fulfilling the American Dream, yes, they can achieve it. Sometimes they don’t set goals and are just coasting. Had I come with another goal, perhaps I would already be speaking English. But I didn’t set that goal. Maybe I focused on other things. What a person sets out to achieve can be achieved.

In the past, we thought that coming to the U.S. would make things easier financially. Now that we’ve lived here for 25 years, we see that there are many opportunities in our own country, as well. Sometimes people think everything is here in the U.S., but no. Had we worked harder mentally in our home country, we could have made it. We realize now that things can be accomplished by working hard wherever we

The best opportunity we’ve given our children is the chance to focus themselves. To be the best representation of this country. ‘Behave well, educate yourselves,’ that’s what we tell them, ‘push yourself for the good of the country.'"

Boris | Waiter “ I feel like I'm an immigrant, but I feel like I have more chance than other immigrants.I think I fit in, at least as far as my physical appearance. So I don't think I had too many problems getting here, but I could see how some d

Boris | Waiter

“I feel like I'm an immigrant, but I feel like I have more chance than other immigrants.I think I fit in, at least as far as my physical appearance. So I don't think I had too many problems getting here, but I could see how some don't have that chance.

In the work that I do, you can really see that structure -- of whoever is Hispanic, where they work, and whoever is white -- where they work. You know, I feel like I'm an immigrant, but I feel like I have more chance than other immigrants. I work in front of the house, and I would say the Hispanic people are in the back of the house, and that's how it kind of is. And I probably make more money. And it's not necessarily fair, because some of them have been here longer than I have and speak better English.”

Abdou | Tailor

Abdou | Tailor

Erick | Vacuum repairman “ I don't think my children will follow in my footsteps. I've been telling them they have to think of their future, and reach for a higher position than where I am. They have to be really, really professional. I’d like fo

Erick | Vacuum repairman

“I don't think my children will follow in my footsteps. I've been telling them they have to think of their future, and reach for a higher position than where I am. They have to be really, really professional. I’d like for them to be a lawyer or a doctor, really have a good career. I think that's the wish of everyone for their children: to be successful in this life.”

Greg | Sauerkraut & pickle maker “ There‘s no anti-immigrant situation anywhere that I've seen here in LA. Companies have always been raided. Ever since I was a kid, there's always been raids. The fact is, it's been done before. It's not the

Greg | Sauerkraut & pickle maker

“There‘s no anti-immigrant situation anywhere that I've seen here in LA. Companies have always been raided. Ever since I was a kid, there's always been raids. The fact is, it's been done before. It's not the first time.

Is there anger toward immigrants? I don't see it. I think it's blown out of proportion. I mean there’s the [August 2019 El Paso Walmart] shooting, but it's, one thing. I know immigrants that agree with a lot of what the tweets say, wholeheartedly. It really depends how you look at it: if you're sitting in a white suburb and reading this, and have leftist ideologies, then yeah, you're gonna get all hyped up and think it's true. You're going to go picket in front of ICE and hang up a sign, and it's like...really?”

Mario | Baker “ We don’t have many opportunities in Mexico. There are a lot here, it’s just that people don’t take advantage of them. You can obtain a better future knowing English. I’ve seen people who started just like me, but they speak Englis

Mario | Baker

“We don’t have many opportunities in Mexico. There are a lot here, it’s just that people don’t take advantage of them. You can obtain a better future knowing English. I’ve seen people who started just like me, but they speak English well, and they’re doing better. I can’t speak English well, I didn’t study anything, and I would have liked to have another job. That’s the biggest mistake I made: not going to school. But here, there are opportunities for everybody.”

Sharon | Landscaping tool repair shop owner “ When I was young I wanted to play an instrument. After the War in Korea, the country was in recovery, and my father wouldn’t allow it.  So my dream was to come to America and do what I want to do

Sharon | Landscaping tool repair shop owner

“When I was young I wanted to play an instrument. After the War in Korea, the country was in recovery, and my father wouldn’t allow it.  So my dream was to come to America and do what I want to do: music.  But somehow, after I came here I married, and then we needed to survive daily, so I started working with my husband like we do here today. When we started we were at zero! But no complaints -- compared to that time, now we’re living in luxury.

We’re working here now not only to make money, but to help others. That’s my duty, I believe, with what God has given to us. I don't know how others define real success, but to me real success is following the Bible, focusing on living an honest life every day.“

Lana | Esthetician “ When I first came here I had a little depression, and I wanted to go back. But six or seven months later I went to beauty school, where I met a lot of people. And all those people were different, all from different countries.

Lana | Esthetician

“When I first came here I had a little depression, and I wanted to go back. But six or seven months later I went to beauty school, where I met a lot of people. And all those people were different, all from different countries. I realized only in America do we have so many immigrants — I never felt anything like it. I never felt like I didn't belong here.”

Byron | Horse groom “ When I got here 15 years ago, there was not as much racism and problems. Day by day, there’s more and more hatred and bitterness towards us, the Hispanic [community]. Not only Hispanic, but also Asians…. [towards] all immigr

Byron | Horse groom

“When I got here 15 years ago, there was not as much racism and problems. Day by day, there’s more and more hatred and bitterness towards us, the Hispanic [community]. Not only Hispanic, but also Asians…. [towards] all immigrants! It’s the color of your skin.

Now the voice of the immigrant is even louder! Before, when I got here, we were barely heard. All candidates ignored us, only some of them talked about immigrants, but now there’s a lot more. All politicians and people who participate in politics are talking about us and supporting us. That’s also good, since they see how we are coming together, and we have a voice in this country.”

Veronica & Ermelinda | Zipper Cutters Veronica (Left): “ I think U.S. citizens won’t do the work we’re willing to do. We settle for such little money, while they want to earn more. But you know that with the President we have now, there will

Veronica & Ermelinda | Zipper Cutters

Veronica (Left): “I think U.S. citizens won’t do the work we’re willing to do. We settle for such little money, while they want to earn more. But you know that with the President we have now, there will be many changes. Anything can happen.”

Ermelinda (Right): “Here [in this factory,] for example, if they remove all the immigrants, do you think someone else will come here looking for a job? It’s hard! They won’t come looking for this. Or go clean. If you see the office cleaners, we’re all immigrants. The ones washing all the bathrooms? All immigrants!”

Marco | Scenic backdrop painter “ I think as an outsider I can see certain things more clearly than people who grew up here, because we all have blind spots. Every person has blind spots about themselves. And only an outsider can open your eyes,

Marco | Scenic backdrop painter

“I think as an outsider I can see certain things more clearly than people who grew up here, because we all have blind spots. Every person has blind spots about themselves. And only an outsider can open your eyes, somebody with a mirror in front of you.

The U.S. was fantastic, and it could be still fantastic for everybody. It would be better for the economy if everybody had a fair share. I think for me money is like blood. It needs to circulate through the whole organism. It brings energy to wherever it goes. You cannot drain the organization of blood. But there are vampires that suck the life out of this country. They suck the blood out of it. And that's what happens now and it's sad.”