America by Car

One of the most fascinating aspects of art is the ability of an artist to take find beauty in the mundanity of everyday life. That is exactly what photographer Lee Friedlander does in his new book “America by Car,” which will be on view at the Whitney Museum of American Art through November 28th.

Driving is one of the most commonplace activities in our daily routine. In particular, driving through the five boroughs of New York City, we see incredible views all the time from bridges and highways that are so normal to us that we rarely take the time to appreciate what we see through our windshields.

Over the last fifteen years, Friedlander has taken black-and-white, square-format photographs all from the inside of cars that he rented during his road trips around the country. He captures magnificent pictures of the countryside, as well as photos of regular intersections, which are all buffered by a steering wheel, dashboard, car radio, or side-view mirrors. The presence of the visual impediments in the form of the interior of a car creates a unique sense of realism in each photograph. Additionally, the black-and-white composition gives regular houses, ice cream shops, factories, and other common sights a classic feel that transforms your perception of otherwise uninteresting roadside landscapes.

Having driven up and down I-95 from South Florida to Manhattan several times, I have spent an enormous amount of time behind the wheel of a car on highway roads, and I can personally relate to Friedlander’s photographs. In December, when my family once again drives down the east coast, I will have a much different perspective on the scenery around me from the interior of our car.

Click here to read The New York Times article

Slideshow from Lee Friedlander: America by Car

– David Rand