Fran Dresher, John Lewis, Paul Strauss, Lena Taylor, Jake Smollett, Sarah Ingersoll at the DNC
Photographer John Beebe set up his photo studio in the middle of last month’s Democratic National Convention and churned out a steady stream of large-scale portraits.  Over one hundred and thirty people from volunteers to delegates to senior party players to celebrities stepped out of the chaos, put down their Blackberries and cell phones and shared their stories.  Some of the names and faces will be recognized – Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, musician Moby, actors Hill Harper and Kerry Washington, labor leader Jimmy Hoffa, Jr.  Others faces will not be recognized but contain their own powerful story – teachers from Detroit, public defenders from West Virginia, hog farmers from Nebraska, retired veterans from Florida. Video footage was shot during the sessions and will be available soon.
See the results here.

For new media artist Jon Winet and his merry band of artists, writers and technologistas, the electoral process is a just a giant studio for probing the boundries of art and journalism.  Jon’s quadrenniel project, The Electoral College, is now in full swing at the Conventions in Denver this week and the Twin Cities next week.

You can tune in to some of Jon’s results-in-progress here, including photographs, short videos, widgets, and blogging about the confluences of politics, media and art.

This is a great opportunity to see behind the mediated scenery and scripted spectacles.