Parker Day

One street over from skid row,

where strewn tents created a makeshift neighborhood,

throngs of millennials spilled from a warehouse gallery

onto the sidewalk of a desolate block in downtown LA.

We made our way through the crowd, and encountered sensory overload 

from the brightly lit display room, and booming base from the DJ's speakers.

One hundred saturated, portraits, shot on film,
 from local photographer Parker Day lined the walls.

Subjects drenched in glitter, neon hues,

and sporting campy accessories belied the artist's narrative.

"There’s a darkness and a gentle undercurrent of rage that permeates my work. I’m interested in the idea that despite having the power to shape our own realities, we often feel beset by our circumstances."

Subjects, dressed in portrait attire, mingled with the crowd,

making the artwork come to life.

According to Day,"this series is about exploring 

the boundary between an individual's real and invented personas." 

The night had that feeling, as well.
The line between what was real and what was projected 
was crossed
 as confessional conversations bridged the distance between unknown and known.