Why This Election Matters

A Generation of Difference, Halifax Mall, Raleigh, NC // 10.29.2008

It's a sign

It's symbolic of something. That's for sure. Trouble is, exactly what? Take you're pick. Prove your point. We printed it with the following caption:

"Insert politically motivated cliché here: A former freight depot, Pettigrew Street, Durham."

P.S. If you're an big time editor from a big time publication and you would like to illustrate your point with this here photo. Give a big time shout.

Old Dreams

This past Sunday I spent some time revisiting a body of work known as the Delta Dream Express. It's been a year since the opening of the gallery show featuring 21 prints from the project named after a oddly symbolic sight I came across in rough river city of Helena, Arkansas.

I added the recordings of Mr. Gates, pictured above, to portfolio site along with more content related to the project. Listening to the righteously profound sounds of the St. Paul congregation again helped me recover from a wicked bout of food poisoning. Guess I'll I've to cool it with the Taquerias.

Listening to Mr. Gates carry it all along on these marvelous gospel numbers educes the experience of being there all over again. I'd like nothing more than to drive down right tomorrow and hear him in person. Yes sir. I'd like to play one for em too, on one of those eight uprights in the shop. There's always November.

The update Delta Dream Express project site.

Red Shoe. Blue State.

On the day we inked this here photo to press, news of the Gov. Palin's $150,000 wardrobe upgrade was breaking over the heads of pundits and voters getting their first salty licks of a depression. It would seem she came through on her promise of reform. Reformed the whole damn family in fact. Fashionably. Expensively. Americanaley. She even reformed my interpretation of "reform." Think I'll go out and reform myself a new pair of shoes.

Mr. Jeremy Lange, the deftly talented sure shot who shares the job with me at the Independent, was there to, working the "buffer" * - that's the part between the stage and crowd where cameras buff the candidate to give them the best looks. Shine em up all pretty. And Miss Wasilla did not disappoint as she declared her love for the pro-American parts of the country. Instinctively, the crowd called back,"U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A."

Now that's pro baby. That's pro.

We felt the need to eat steakburgers afterward, but declined the shakes. Which might of been something other than pro-American. Later on, I piled the snaps together, sorted them out, then mixed in a dash of ol' Hank Williams Jr. playing a sad remake of "Family Tradition" to create this here slideshow.

Watch. Reflect. Then go out and vote.

* So lately I've been brushing my teeth while watching the Daily Show on my laptop, which is on top of the toilet. And John Stewart, funny man that he his, made a joke about John McCain's excessive and vague use of air quotes while talking, "or as well call them, dick fingers." I tried to laugh, but I was brushing my teeth. I'd like to think it a fitting commentary on these high-strung times.

Almost There . . .

In one week I'll finally have this show on the wall. Printed and done. Finally. In the run up to this point there has been a lot of out-of-stock and out-of-luck moments to work around. In fact, I'm not sure if everything will be ready to go come Oct. 17th, but we'll go on either way. I picked up the last of the big square prints (24x24") today and was quite pleased with the job J.W. Photo Labs did with them. Now I need to catch up on sleep and finish out the small print portfolio. For more information about the show go here.