Accession Number
2014/2.116

Title
Allie, Nick, Chris, Edgar, Kyle & Xavier - St. Johns, Portland

Artist(s)
Bobby Abrahamson

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
2011, printed 2012

Medium & Support
gelatin silver print on paper

Dimensions
13 in x 10 in (33.02 cm x 25.4 cm)

Credit Line
Gift from the Collection of David S. Rosen MD, MPH

Subject matter
This photograph depicts teenagers posing as a group. Arms around one another, the five boys and one girl are dressed in baggy clothes and skateboarder shoes, their shorts and sweatshirts adorned with patches bearing the names of punk rock bands. Three of the boys have gauged earrings, which are large, cylindrical plugs that stretch out the skin of one’s earlobes. One boy in the background grimaces in a stern pout, another with a wry sideways smile flashes the “rock-on” hand signal, with the index and pinky fingers raised. A tall boy in the center of the photograph smiles coolly, a lit cigarette idly drooping out of the corner of his mouth. The close huddle and attention the group reveals their earnest interest in their photograph being taken. The blurred, out-of-focus setting behind the figures appears to be an asphalted, suburban lot, with trees and telephone poles visible. Indicative of Polaroid Type 55 film—the kind of film used to create this image—a rectangular, white border made by chemical stains from the photo’s processing appears to float on top of the image, framing the figures inside. While this image has the appearance of a snapshot, the rich luster of the gelatin silver print imbues the moment with a palpable intentionality. This photograph is part of a series documenting the people in the photographer’s neighborhood in St. Johns, Portland, Oregon.

Physical Description
This photograph depicts a group of teenagers wearing punk rock-style clothing with their arms around one another and posing for the camera. 

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
adolescents
children (people by age group)
group portraits
people (agents)
punk (international movement)
skateboards