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From the Ghost Collection — A North American Frontiersman
Continue ReadingHe is Pre-American (before nationhood) therefore a stateless subject of the English King. His buckskin — and the improvised uniform lacking insignia — give him away. Beyond the determination evident in the way he holds his mouth, our subject gives us only enigmatical indications of his present state of mind. He has dropped in from […]
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A Disturbing Artifact of the Wild West
Continue ReadingWhen wandering a museum in the Southwestern United States, one expects reminders of bygone rugged lives, curated to local standards of conservative taste, intended to produce only mild provocations. I explored the exhibits in this archive anticipating relaxation — then this horror of an object confronted me. The outline and condition of the thing jolts […]
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Honoring Local Heroes
Continue ReadingAn American GI stands in the square of a mountain town in Arizona. He does more than just stand — he assumes a classic posture with arm and hand raised at the perfect angle; the crown and the rim of his helmet follow the same line flawlessly. The soldier petitions the Divine for assistance perhaps […]
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Wishing You A Happy 2nd Amendment Christmas
Continue ReadingThe Massie Christmas greeting appeared on social media channels in time to celebrate the 2021 Holidays. The image comes from an iPhone camera and falls within a subspecies we might label: group-selfie. This particular group seems energized beyond common expressions of emotion; their manic joy exceeds what you normally witness in even the most animated […]
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A Second Childishness
Continue ReadingYou get the feeling these grown men ache to be children again — playing dress-up. Kids will do most anything to bring fun into their lives, likewise with these characters.
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Gail & Hannah On Their Special Day
Continue ReadingEarlier in life I frequented parades, where I photographed bystanders and participants alike. Berea, Kentucky celebrates each September a food delicacy — Spoon Bread — with processions, demonstrations, foot-races and dancing. The bread is a gooey cornmeal concoction bordering on pudding; it is sweet, containing fresh cream and eggs in copious amounts. Thousands of the […]
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Modeling Patriotism
Continue ReadingEach tribe or nation-state shows off its pride and determination. Many parade their army, navy, air forces. I made this photograph at an early-18th century frontier encampment along the Ohio River near Paducah, Kentucky. There is a twist here: these armed militia men express their patriotism for a nation not yet in existence — it […]
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Concerning The Elvis Mythology
Continue ReadingI know for sure Elvis is gone. I visited his grave once. That happened in the yard at Graceland Mansion in Tennessee where I sensed only his symbolic reality with no animating presence. Beside me three fellow tourists lined up in a different attitude, folded their hands and bowed their heads, behaving as if they […]
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Americana Favorites: Two Ladies In A Green Truck
Continue ReadingThe women perform matching smiles, broad and almost natural, full of bright teeth. Attached to their vintage American truck, we find a spare tire looking as if freshly lifted off the Firestone rack; the rubber is pristine, soaked recently in shine oil. Notice the burnished-until-golden door handle. I cannot say for sure whether the youngster […]
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