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California Dreamers

Sally Davies author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:GMC Publications

Published:11th Jul '23

Should be back in stock very soon

California Dreamers cover

California Dreamers is an intimate fly-on-the-wall photographic study of over 70 Californians, along with their personal testimonies and tales, revealing life behind closed doors in this iconic US state.

California, the Golden State, is steeped in cliché like almost nowhere else: palm trees, beach-blonde surfers, aspiring actors and tail-finned cars, all bathed in endless sunshine. Sally Davies, acclaimed New York street photographer and author of New Yorkers, heads west to capture the images and listen to the voices of everyday Californians in their own homes, hoping to delve beneath the ubiquitous stereotypes. She finds light and space, swimming pools and enticing views of the stunning natural surroundings encroaching through the walls. Posing for her in bedrooms, garages and patios, Davies discovers vibrant multicultural communities, eccentric stories of hopes and dreams, tales of gridlocked traffic, urban sprawl, air pollution and all aspects of the entertainment industry. Among the voices are well-known figures, Linda Ramone and actor Eric McCormack, accompanied by a cast of models, producers, a high-court judge, artists, stylists, writers, musicians, lawyers, magicians and many more.

The myth of California is an enduring one: a place of new beginnings touched by sun, sea and surf with ever-present Beach Boys harmonies drifting on the breeze. Photographer Sally Davies’ past work has involved snapping New Yorkers, but her new work, ‘California Dreamers’ (Ammonite Press, £20), captures Californians of all stripes at home, at work and play: models, artists, lawyers, musicians, producers, magicians and more, such as Joan and Gary Gand (above) at their Palm Springs home in 2021. Davies gets underneath West Coast stereotypes and finds out why, a century on from the Gold Rush, people are still drawn to California to start again and strike it lucky.

-- Sophie Batterbury * The I Paper *

California Dreamers is not merely a collection of photographs; it is a profound exploration of the human spirit within the Californian landscape. Davies skillfully illuminates the stories of models, producers, high-court judges, artists, stylists, writers, musicians, lawyers, magicians, and more, giving readers a rare glimpse into the rich tapestry of Californian life.

-- Michael Davis * One Eleven Livi

ISBN: 9781781454657

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

160 pages