America is united through a conceptual art project titled The Nomadic Project. Follow award winning artist, Kristin Abraham and musician, Alfonso Llamas, as they explore each of the fifty states in hope to unite and inspire a divided nation. Their emotional, physical and historical experiences are expressed through art, music, literature and film.

The Reason:

Modern generations are spending less time exploring, creating, and interacting with each other on a personal level. In addition, technology has separated the modern world from the land which carries it. it is time to once again, be inspired!
These two elements have the ability to create a soul-less society full of unexplainable emptiness. Therefore, in an attempt to re-establish “The America Dream,” artist Kristin Abraham and musician Alfonso Llamas take a nation divided by war, politics, race and religion, and discover that the only way to find peace and unity is to return to the land itself. America was founded on exploration and dreams….it is time to once again, be inspired!

it is time to once again, be inspired!

The Concept:

Llamas and Abraham leave most of the journey to unfold on the road, yet these things are for certain
  • TIMEFRAME: Spend 1-2 weeks in each of the fifty states, finish in about 1yr
  • GOAL: Discover the big cities, small towns and Historic sites that make up this torn nation, and pull it all together with art
  • UNITE: Abraham shares the journey through a 24 x 30″ canvas painted in each state which is left behind in the following state (where it will be displayed at a gallery for the duration of the project)
  • INSPIRE: Llamas composes poetic melodies that journal the voyage, shared online for all to experience
  • RESULT: At the end of the year-long journey all fifty states will be simultaneously displaying a painting that was inspired by a bordering state
The Nomadic Project is intended to stand as a symbol of unity, however we quickly discover that it is a celebration of diversity.

The Art:

Abraham’s paintings stray from typical landscapes and state icons. In an effort to delve deeper into the gifts of each state, she combines personal, historical and symbolic elements. While it is easy to match some of the paintings, such as a Wright Flyer for North Carolina, or the Old Man of the Mountain for New Hampshire, most pieces require more thought and discovery to realize which state they address and why.

Abraham provides a brief description with each painting to address the source of inspiration. She also lists the gallery that the piece was left on display with during the journey. Remember, the painting was not displayed in their own states, but taken to be displayed in the next state that the artist visited. She calls this “blurring state lines.” With this act, states are physically connected to each other.

The History:

Two world’s collided when a punk-rock musician from SW Florida, Alfonso Llamas, met a dedicated artist from upstate New York, Kristin Abraham.

Almost as serious as their relationship itself was a shared dream to travel and create in a world that they didn’t quite understand. The two saw the United States divided through war, politics, race and religion, and realized that the only way to find unity was to return to the land itself.

Before marrying in 2003, the couple bought a Honda Element for its 4 wheel drive and great travel features. However, soon after, they were swept up by life: marriage, steady jobs, a new home…everything expected to complete the “American dream.” Heavy conversations about success, politics, and religion kept pushing these artists away from the conventional. It just wasn’t enough though, and the two soon realized that they had a greater purpose. And so was born: The Nomadic Project.
It was a dream that just kept growing and one day, over a game of cards, Kristin and Alfonso decided to leave the life they had been building to set out and unite a nation through art. This dream was so big and so powerful that it moved the couple to sell all of their belongings, including their home, in order to fund it.

The Lifestyle:

Since it is important for Llamas and Abraham to self-fund the journey, every dollar is budgeted. A budget of $10/day for food and careful planning for gas, art supplies and a weekly hotel stay taught the couple to live with very little. They camped despite freezing West Virginia nights and smoldering North Dakota heats. Through the art, they share it all, such as losing their vehicle/home for an entire month due to a car accident in Tuscon, AZ and feeling hopeless and alone in California. The lifestyle forced them to be creative and resourceful just to survive, and the experience provided them with a greater respect and appreciation for those who walked the land before them.