Micah Daniel, Funeral Service Professional, The Funeral Guy
Artist
Jennifer Loomis
MediumDigital Photograph
Dimensions24 x 30 in. (61 x 76.2 cm)
ClassificationsPhotograph
Credit LineSeattle City Light 1% for Art Portable Works Collection
Subject Statement: We aren’t seeing our parents, friends or loved ones. We have to limit our visitation to outsiders within our sphere of influence. We don’t want to take anything to them, and many of them are apprehensive about embracing our presence because of where we work. It is hard to imagine this as a new way of life right now.
Ours is a ministry of compassion. We are like the mother and father figure inside the funeral home. We have almost had a 50% increase in our business which is stretching us to capacity. We love it from a standpoint of being able to help our families. We don’t love it because so many are losing loved ones. But we love it because we are essential. We are a last responder, and you can lean on us
Artist Statement: I approached this project with the belief that collaboration with the photo subject is imperative for creating more authentic images. I took this a step further and asked my community to help me define the word “essential workers” and asked them to nominate themselves or others to be photographed. Wanting my images to match the ethnic and cultural demographics of my neighborhood, I used the 2010 Census data to assist me in selecting participants.
