TULIP TIME

Crowds of historical Dutch costumes and wooden shoes, Dutch fronts on every building, the tallest working grain windmill in the United States and 350,000 tulips planted along the street beds and throughout the parks - you might be surprised to find the Tulip Time Festival located in modern day Pella, Iowa.

Pella is also where I was born and raised. I started this project as an exercise in seeking out the unique features of my hometown that I took for granted during my 18 years living in Pella.

I decided to photograph the entire project on black & white analog film. It seemed a fitting pairing for capturing the themes of heritage and I welcomed the slow, methodical process that the clunky, mechanical cameras required. The lack of color also helped me artistically separate from all of my preconceptions about Pella and has allowed me to see the familiar streets through fresh eyes.

The dutch costumes at Tulip Time are what would have been commonly worn in the Netherlands during the mid to late 1800s - the different styles are from different provinces, which are like states and divided by heavy water ways.

You can tell a lot about a person based on their costume. If the woman’s scarf is tied under her neck it means she is married. Other ornaments and embroideries can tell you her religion, wealth, relatives and family business.