Scathing and confrontational, Spring 2007 Hot Shot Nina Berman's exhibit, Homeland, opens at Jen Bekman Gallery this Friday, October 24th, and consists of images culled as she photographed across the United States during the last seven years of the Bush Administration.

The image above, 9-11-02, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 2002, is one of my favorites from the show. It was released as a 20x200 edition in March earlier this year, so I've had plenty of time to look at it and have yet to grow tired of it, in fact, I return to it as a breath of fresh air when news and coverage of the Iraq War, the elections, Israel and Palestine, natural disasters (this list could go on for awhile) become overwhelming. When all of this clatter is incessant, images like this photograph keep me from becoming apathetic. That little hand and that little flag flapping under the nose of that ominous camera are so hopeful and optimistic against that gray sky.

9-11-02, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 2002, also provides a counterpoint for Nina's other photographs, like the above, Little Patriots, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, 2003. This boy on his bike is almost as frightening, (possibly more) than the camera hovering in the sky because he gives you NO room to breathe.

Tyler Green on Modern Art Notes is collecting images of flags from curators, editors, and bloggers over the next week or so. Nina's 9-11-02, Shanksville, Pennsylvania has been featured via Cigarettes and Purity. See the rest of the round-up on MAN this week and see the rest of Nina's show at the JB Gallery, opening tomorrow, Friday, October 24 from 6-8 p.m @ 6 Spring Street, NYC.