God Stress America by Dan Jamieson

"‘God Stress America’ is a layering of digital photos taken on a camp snap camera which takes 35mm style disposable camera photos but in digital format. The work is printed beautifully as an aluminium print and floats off the wall.

"It captures the epic and morning and evening light that engulfs Palm Springs every day and the title centres around the uncertainty, frustration and anger around the current political situation in the states with my time there during election week. It also is a pun of a hat with a famous American slogan on that I bought from a bizarre ‘patriot’ store and that started off some conversations in a dive bar. Hold on to your margaritas.

"The camera photos are deliberately a bit janky as they aim to reflect a certain kind of old timey nostalgia that reflects the mood of the Palm Springs desert. The camera has no display, so the photos are a complete surprise but love how these two blended together to capture both kinds of light you get during the day. 

"I also completed the work as soon as I got home and was feeling really jet lagged, but feel this mirrors the hazy, trippy and baked feeling that Palm Springs drenches you in. The text is done with a similar colour that greeted me on the first morning of waking up in the movie set motel where the sun had tickled the mountains pink that surround you everywhere you stepped. Every day is sunny side up." Dan Jamieson, 2024