As I collected photos of people and places during my year living in Germany as a Congress-Bundestag Young Professional Fellow, I imagined a project and pitched it to the City of Celle, the German sister city of my hometown, Tulsa. To my luck they provided me with a desk in City Hall, a salary, and colleagues who graciously welcomed me into their community. I began creating Städtepartnerschaft, sister cities - a photographic love letter to the people of Germany and the reflections of home I saw there. During my time in Germany, I arranged and photographed over 40 shoots.
I returned to Tulsa in July 2022 and am now raising money for the second phase of the project, with the goal of documenting reflections of Germany in my home, with a specific interest in Oktoberfest, Mayfest, German American Society, German businesses, immigrants, descendants, and visitors. Ultimately, I would like show the photos from both communities side-by-side in exhibitions both in Celle and in Tulsa.
Liebe Grüße, McKinleigh Lair
eine Spiegelung im Celler Schlossgraben / a reflection in the Celle castle mote
