Manet, 2023
Canson Baryta paper
81.4 x 61 cm
For Sale
Available in the following sizes: 8” X 10” - Approx - 20.3 X 25.4 cms 17 X 22” - Approx 43.2 X 52.9 cms 24 X 36 - Approx 61 X 91.4 cms 30” X 40” - Approx 76 X 101.6 cms The Public Pool Once upon a time, school bussing and the military draft were a way of bringing together people of different regions, religions, colors and class. But in our increasingly polarized society, we rarely mix with people outside our immediate circle, preferring to surround ourselves with familiar voices in our social media echo chambers. Given the current political climate, finding common ground seems impossible. This is why public institutions are more important than ever to preserving common ground – places where all are welcome and labels are irrelevant. The public pool is one of our few common grounds where kids can go on a blistering hot summer day and be free from social boundaries and political sides. I’ve visited pools in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Orlando, Austin and Los Angeles and rarely did I find pools that could be described as melting pots. Pools serve their neighborhoods and most are not especially integrated. Pools where there is a cross section of America are mostly self-segregated. Banneker, established as a pool for black Washingtonians in 1934, is in the heart of one of the fastest gentrifying neighborhoods in the nation. But gentrification doesn’t equate to integration; the only mingling I found at Banneker was in the line for the diving board. Nonetheless, the public pool is a vital sanctuary for those who don’t live in gated communities or belong to private swim clubs. At a time when many of our public institutions are being privatized for profit, supporting and recognizing public pools is essential.