Sixteen Sundays: Worshipping the Pittsburgh Steelers

A Photography Project

by Kevin Francis Sweeney

Pittsburghers are uniquely proud of the city they call home, and if there is one entity that carries that pride to the rest of America, it is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Being a supporter of the Pittsburgh Steelers is more than just being a spectator. Being a fan means more than just cheering for victory. Being a Pittsburgh Steelers fan means celebrating the heritage of both the football team and the City of Pittsburgh itself. The Steelers represent the outward image of what Pittsburgh is all about: hard work, persistence, spirit, strength, struggle and success. The team represents the hopes of every man and woman. The emotion of being a part of the spectacle helps unite the community and relieves the stress of everyday life.

Sixteen Sundays: Worshipping the Pittsburgh Steelers is a photography project documenting the lives of Steelers Fans over the course of sixteen regular season games. A series of black and white photographs will create a portrait of the fans that support the City and its football team. This portrait will include both the public spectacle and intimate devotion shown by fans. Home games will revolve around the stadium. Heinz Field is the public focus of the spectacle and a place of congregation for devout fans. Special interest will be paid to the ritual of tailgating and what fans do during away games, in smaller, private groups. Where and how do they gather and celebrate and cheer their team? What remote locations become the centers for mutual spectatorship? Also what is it like to be a spectator and die-hard fan at a hostile stadium for an away game?

There are Steelers fans everywhere. Some people travel hundreds of miles just to go to a game. Those who can't make it to a game congregate with other fans in homes and bars all over the country. Perhaps this shared fanaticism and pride in a hometown team is exactly what unites and identifies the people of Pittsburgh. Perhaps being a fan takes them away from their own daily dramas and crises. Perhaps it is bigger that all of us.

The goal of Sixteen Sundays is to produce a portrait of Pittsburgh Steelers fans through straight photography. The result will be popular fine art photography that is accessible to the broadest population. The images will be “very Pittsburgh” yet universal. They will be bold, emotional, quirky and inviting. Shot in black and white, they will be immediately timeless. Photographs will be shot on film, then scanned, edited, and made available every week on a website. Complimentary inkjet prints will be given to participants throughout the season. When the project is completed, select photographs will be put on display for the public and published as a book. Photographs will be produced over the course of two seasons. The first season (2004-2005) will focus on Heinz Field and the core of local fans around Pittsburgh. The goal of the second season (2005-2006) is to reach out and find fans outside of Pittsburgh, creating a wider portrait of the Steeler Nation.

Kevin Francis Sweeney is a street photographer and graphic designer. He was recently included in national photographic surveys by The Photo Review and the Texas Photographic Society. In June 2004 he exhibited Living with the Dead at the Silver Eye Center for Photography Members’ Gallery. He started the company Studio KFS, LLC in April 2004 to provide graphic design services and manage the production of fine art photographs. His studio is located in Pittsburgh’s South Side.

For More Information contact:

Kevin Francis Sweeney

Studio KFS, LLC

1100 Bingham Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

(412) 381-2030

http://www.studiokfs.com

mail@studiokfs.com