Roxboro Road

Recently I've begun work on what I hope will be a long term project about North Roxboro Road in Durham, a part of the city experiencing rapid growth in the Latino community. This building was a bank two years ago, now it's called El Vaquero, specializing in the latest cowboy fashions. Their boots are beyond. Simply beyond.

The County Clink

Durham County Jail, Durham, NC, 2008

After listening to Tom Waits on an overcast day, I walked around the Durham County Jail and made some sketches for consideration in a multimedia piece about people who stand outside the jail and wave or hold up signs for significant others currently incarcerated.

Butt Stains

Butt Stains #3, Durham, NC, 2008

As mentioned in the previous post, I've recently taken up the fine Art (note the capital A) of North Carolina barbecue - slow and low, smoked to pieces, tender as a mother's love, aw hell yeah. The preferred cut of pork for barbecue is called a Boston Butt, hence the title, though it actually comes from the shoulder region of a pig. Thanks to the generous donation of a Weber smoker by my former housemate Mr. Jason Alexander Bissey (Chef at Rue Cler), I'm able to spend upwards of 14 hours at a time devoted to craft of creating perfectly pulled pork to pile high on a bun and smother in cole slaw. Sweet Jesus is it good.

UNC Press recently published a facinating book on the subjet Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue if you'd like to learn more.

Chicken Shit Bingo

Col. George O'Rudeboy, Durham, NC, 2008

Compton & Longbeach, Durham, NC, 2008

The first time I witnessed chicken shit bingo was at a sweet honky tonk called Ginny's Little Longhorn in Austin, TX (short film). I had just endured four long days of intense live music at SXSW and the three hours spent at Ginny's sippn' Lone Star far exceeded all of that. So when some funds needed to be raised for Ms. K's trip to Italy to attend Terra Madre - we thought this would be a delightful way to spend an afternoon - listening to fine bluegrass music by Rob and Mary D of the New River Rock Skippers while breaking several laws gambling with friends and eating some delightful BBQ made by yours truly.

Mr. George graciously loaned us two of his finest hens from his Lil' Farm out on Arthur Minus Rd., so if you happen to shop at the Durham Farmer's Market, do stop by his stand and show your appreciation.

Eva en la Kudzu

Yes We Can

"It's the answer that lead those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day . . ."

Barack Obama
Senator from Illinois
President Elect
Acceptance Speech, Grant Park, Chicago, IL. Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008

Ideally journalism is best practiced from close distance, yet removed of influence. As an American citizen. As a witness to the last eight years. I felt the influence of my actions as I cast my ballot one week ago. It was a powerful action, weighted with all the selfless courage and sacrifice given by others before me to preserve this precious right. It was not like past elections. Something was vastly different. On Tuesday, when the numbers returned, when Obama spoke, my spirits would not, remain distant. I made photographs, but I also hugged friends and strangers as we all sang out.

The protection of democracy and freedom should be journalism's highest aim. In my lifetime, I've never experienced a better example of a healthy, functioning democratic system than this election. The system has never been perfect, but this was a masterful revision.

But seriously, what the hell am I talking about? The liberal media has always loved an election; ref., http://stuffjournalistslike.com/

Here's what Mr. Lange and I found round the way on Tuesday.




The day after we pieced together a slideshow with the work of two other photographers, Eric Kaufman and Jenny Warburg.

D.F.'s election journey along I-85