Paul Kwilecki (1928-2009) shows us life in Bainbridge, Decatur County, Georgia from 1961-1981. People are working in tobacco fields, shops and factories. waiting. He shows us supermarket shoppers waiting in line, store owners waiting for customers, people waiting for buses at the Trailways station, families and spectators waiting for verdicts at the Decatur County Courthouse, and Mrs. Tomlinson in the house of tomatoes waiting for the Martian invasion.
Mrs. Tomlinson in the house of tomatoes, 1967
Woman in back seat of car on Water Street, 1965
Interior of Jake’s Pawn Shop on Water Street, 1968
“I’m not trying to make aesthetic images. I’m not in it as an artist…I’m interested in what is going on here.”
– Paul Kwilecki
Mr. Ward in the window of his hardware store, 1968
Outside entrance to Wynn’s Department Store, 1968 Dec
“Insight into a life in Decatur County is insight into lives everywhere.
– Paul Kwilecki
Preparing to enter the Bargain Center, 1978 July
Visiting, 1978 Sept
Ms. Bennet in her jewelry store on West Street, 1978 Oct
Ms. Sasser in her grocery store, 1979 Oct
Woman putting bacon in grocery cart, 1980
Grocery buying, 1980 Mar
At checkout, 1980 Mar
Waiting at checkout, 1980 Mar
Mr. Gause in his Pure Oil Station, 1980 May
At Elmore’s “department” store, 1981 Aug
December 1981
Prostitute standing in doorway of her house, 1965
Man with cigarette picking leaves, 1966
Two women (head shot) in front of tobacco barn, 1966
Sitting on bumper of old car, 1970
Woman and baby in laundromat in Bainbridge Mall, 1973
Junk table with women, 1975 Nov
Trailways Bus Station, 1978 Aug
Trailways Bus Station, 1978 Aug.
Trailways Bus Station, 1978 Sept
Woman in housecoat fishing at Flint River, 1979 June
Couple fishing on tubs, Flint River, 1980 Apr
Mr. Gause in his Pure Oil Station, 1980 May
Dr. M. A. Ehrlich in the doorway of his office, 1980 Aug
Watt Baldwin, Jr. in his garage, 1980 June
People in court room during a session of superior court, 1981 Feb.
Via The Paul Kwilecki Photographs and Papers were purchased by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library at Duke University. Published under fair use. See more of his work at Duke.
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