Roadside Attractions

I’ve always preferred backroads to interstates.  Those thin black lines on the map that take you through places you’ve never heard of.   As I travel those old roads I see mom and pop cafes and local grocers rather than McDonalds’ and Walmarts.  Collectively, these buildings form a mosaic that reveals the impermanence of our times.

What once was ubiquitous eventually becomes anachronistic.  As I come upon these echoes of our past, I wonder about the people who lived and worked and gathered there.  I think about what their lives were like.  I imagine them on the day they opened.  Full of hope and ambition.  Like oversized time capsules, these old edifices reflect a big moment in a small slice of time.  Silent reminders of their generation. 

  Perhaps causing us to ponder what will remain of our own.

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In 2025, I created a limited edition handmade book containing 30 images of decaying and abandoned buildings that I  made during  road trips throughout the western United States over the preceding four years.

6.75”x 8.75”, 34 pages.  Japanese stab binding with hemp leaf stitching. Archival inkjet prints on Moab Entrada Rag Bright paper, hand torn and abraded edge, with hand lettered titles.  End pages created from Rand McNally road atlas used by author.  Pearl linen coated blue denim bookcloth, matboard, PVA, natural white linen thread, beeswax.  Fonts: Wide Latin (title); Segoe UI (text).  Edition of 10 (5 created to date).  Email to purchase.  $225.

Additional images from the ongoing series