portfolios
Fading glimpses of the Midwest
The Fading glimpses of the Midwest project portfolio is the most recent iteration of work that represents a long-time infatuation with the towns and neighborhoods of the Midwest. It is a collection of memories, discoveries and oddities that represent this unique area of America, often referred to as the heartland of the country.
From the edge of the Ohio River in the East, across the Mississippi and finally fading out on the plains of Kansas, the Midwest is more than just a geographical area. It has a unique identity, which one can see, as well as feel, which permeates the streets of towns and cities built upon the needs of industry and small rural towns and farms that have provided nourishment for the country.
In the 1980s, the Midwest began to go through extensive changes. Many of these changes rocked the Midwest to its core, resulting in the loss of its identity and its soul. The devastation and loss of the great steel industry, as well as a large portion of its manufacturing capabilities created what is termed as the rust belt.
This resulted in thousands of once-prosperous towns to slowly die, building by building. This, melded with the loss of family farms to global conglomerates has resulted in many rural towns facing the same fate as those referred to as the rust belt.
Today, in a post, rust belt situation, the Midwest continues to struggle with the loss of these manufacturing jobs and the lack of governmental programs to resverse the situation. And while, there has been revitalization in the Midwest, the majority of these communities still slowly fade away.
As a project, Fading glimpses of the Midwest is an attempt at preserving what is left with a nod to the past — documenting places and structures that epitomize the soul of the Midwest before they too succumb to neglect and the wrecking ball.
The Fading project portfolio is separated into two distinct categories: the towns and the neighborhoods. Click on the photos or links to see the complete set of images of each portfolio.
Recent Images
These images represent newer work, which are part of the Fading Glimpses of the Midwest project portfolio. The majority of these images were captured in the last year and a half. These images build upon the themes presented in the previous work and fit seamlessly into the original project portfolio.
Steel Towns & River Towns
I grew up in the manufacturing and steel mill towns of Northeast Ohio.
At that time, the towns along the Ohio and the Monongahela rivers were teeming with industry — the industry that was responsible for the building of America. And then, it was gone, and America didn’t seem to really care. In fact, the American government was instrumental in helping American companies move their operations overseas.
It was greed that led to the devastation of these towns and the people here were sacrificed in the name of corporate profits. Stripped of the steel mills and manufacturing plants, the towns along the rivers became mere shells of what they once were. Now the towns and the people within them are engaged in a fight for survival.
These photographs reflect the aftermath of this tempest of greed, which has dealt a destructive blow to the area. I want to believe there is still hope for these towns. My images strive to present the survivors — those towns and neighborhoods that still have that spark of hope.
These towns still inspire me with the same curiosity I had when I was young and they were thriving. I can still find hope along the streets of these towns — hope in the idea that they can still make a comeback. Hope that America will recognize what we have lost and move to rectify their decisions of aiding companies to decimate the country’s steel and manufacturing industries in the name of personal profits.
Elgin, Illinois
The Elgin Project is where the Fading glimpses project was conceived.
When I had decided I needed a project to work on, I went to Elgin and just shot for fun. When I looked at the images, I realized these neighborhoods spoke to me and reminded me of where I grew up in Ohio.
Since I started to seriously photograph again after a long hiatus, I have found myself back in Elgin photographing these same neighborhoods. I find Elgin to be a special town steeped in history of being an early Illinois town, but also as a previous manufactruring town, highlighted by the Elgin Watch Co.
Unfortunately the watch company buildings were torn down in the 1960s — a huge loss for the city. Elgin epitomizes the current state of the Midwest, a loss of major manufacturing entities, destruction of notable structures and changing neighborhoods in flux. However, it is also a site of surviving working-class neighborhoods sparked by a Midwest attitude of hard work and determination to survive and prosper despite current economic pressures.
The town is the site of over 200 Sears kit homes built between 1902 and 1942. Many of these homes are being preserved and Elgin has a community interested in preserving older structures and neighborhoods.