The ability to get behind the wheel of a car for the first time and go anywhere is a quintessentially American rite of passage. For many young people, their first car gives them the freedom to explore their city on an intimate level, with their windows open and music blasting – and away from the prying eyes of parents. It can be a means of escape from monotony and anxiety – especially during the height of the pandemic – and a gathering space where they can let go.
Growing up in Los Angeles, photographer Adali Schell, 21, spent last summer capturing the members of his creative community in their cars. In interviews conducted in the fall, they spoke of the joy of getting behind the wheel, creating a space of safety and curiosity for themselves, and their fears about the future – including the increasingly damaging effects of climate change.
Finding a place to belong “feels so sparse” in LA, Adali said. But in the confines of an old Mercedes Benz (now powered by vegetable oil), a former taxi, a beat-up Volvo and a “mother” car, this group of artists and students found “a stronger sense of self and a stronger sense of self.” security.”
“It’s hard to find a home away from home, especially when you’re trying to find yourself or you’re in a toxic living situation or whatever the situation may be,” said Adali. “The car is a cure for a lot of those things. It is both something that can take you somewhere and something that can really protect you.”
“That’s the first taste of adulthood and ultimate freedom.”