Very interesting! (Out of curiousity, have you read the Laura Ingels Wilder “Little House” book series? I read them all some years ago and really enjoyed them and the descriptions of the settings in those prairies (and woods) as well as the routines her family took on to survive. The country really does seem all that much bigger in those expanses where the land just goes on and on.)
Thank you for your comment. I didn't read all, but I rewatched a few of the Little house series a few years ago. I also read "Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder" which is a great book (biography).
Caroline Fraser's book is exactly what I first thought of while I was watching your video. It’s a fantastic book on its own, but definitely needed to give the Little House series context. Glynnis MacNicol’s Wilder podcast is really good too.
My people are from Oklahoma and Colorado. My father's people were forced to live in OK after their land was taken for European settlers. I think it's easy to forget the original peoples of the Plains, and how they lived their lives were so different from the people who tried to establish rooted communities.
Deborah, thank you for sharing this with me. When I started to read about the history of these places, I read about the tragedies of the lifes of the people who were there before the European settlers came and took everything. This never quite left me and I feel torn about the artwork I did ever since. I hope, I don't offend you in any way with what I wrote or created... It is so easy to forget (if your family wasn't involved and you are not from around).
No worries. I have been so distant from my heritage that I can't personally be offended, but did feel it was worthwhile commenting. The plains are rich with the earth's history and I appreciate your art.
Thank you for sharing this with us..When you mentioned visiting the Great Plains I remembered your writings about Robert Adams who along with others spent so much effort in showing us the beauty and harshness of the land..I have already mentioned in a previous comment, Peter Brown and his book “West of Last Chance”, a document of which in the photographers own words, “ explores the beautiful and sometimes brutal”, landscape..
As landscapes change, give way to the behavioral habits of its inhabitants, I would like to journey along the very eastern seaboard of the US. While some of the older culture is still present and the developers haven’t built condos and golf courses, The lowlands of Georgia and the Carolinas, the rocky coast of Maine..Thanks again
Thank you, Rick! I can't get my hand on Peter Brown's books here in Germany, but I looked at his website and love his work. The next time I travel to the US I might have to bring a spare suitcase for all the books I want to have and are much cheaper and easier to get there.
And yes, I would love to visit Georgia and the Carolinas too one day... I have been to Maine in 2010 and have wonderful memories of it.
Susanne, I live in Iowa, and I love living in the Midwest. We moved here 20 years ago from the beautiful state of Kentucky, from which I thought I’d never leave. I love the farmland. I love the open spaces, especially the soft folds of colors in autumn. I drive by sad & abandoned homes many times when I am out. And they always draw my eye. I love the old grayed barns. But the thing I have grown to most appreciate is the sky. Wide open. Always changing. I can see weather come & go. I have driven when I click my phone taking pictures all around me, not even looking at where it’s pointing becuz stunning storm clouds surround me. And then the rain & wind hits.
And. The people of Iowa are sincere, down to earth, softly friendly, open like the land here, and like to help their neighbors. And their stores can be surprising w resilience. Your empty buildings are wonderful representative of the Midwest scenery but the opposite of its people.
It amazes me that so much is so similar to abandoned places we have out here in the PNW. Several of the places you filmed looked almost identical to places Ive been out here in Washington; had to do a double take!
You are right, there is so much history and story, it really makes one wonder. Perhaps there are records somewhere, preserving a tiny bit of the story left behind...
Love your project, Susanne! It kind of reminds of collage so I am so drawn to them. And, your video gave a great visual reference of the expanse you wrote about. Looking forward to seeing more. Thank you for sharing!
There is something so sad yet also magical about the miles and miles of big skies and wide open spaces of the Great Plains and your film encapsulates that. I've only visited the outskirts once when visiting friends in Texas. His family came from Arkansas and had a farmstead in the northern Texas dust bowl. He had a photograph of Roosevelt visiting his grandfather and family, surrounded by farm workers at that time. They lost everything and settled first in another part of Texas before moving back to Arkansas. Love your artworks - a fabulous project!
Thank you, Lin for sharing your personal connection to the place. What you wrote about their family was the fate of many people back then.
Sad and magical fits pretty perfect. For some reasons I can get very sentimental when I drive the dirt roads watching the land and the endless skies passing by.
My father grew up in Kansas (born 100 years ago this year). I have pictures taken by his mother when he was a small child when they packed up a model T Ford to drive to California during the dust bowl. They eventually came back to Kansas and I’ve visited the small towns where his family lived. It is quite a fascinating story. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and going to Kansas was amazing, it is so flat compared to what I was used to. A completely different way of life to what I experienced, and it still is.
Thank you for sharing your experience. So good to hear you can appreciate all the beauty on an everyday basis. The landscape and of course the skies are amazing. And yes, you can definitely watch the weather rolling in. I experienced it myself a few times. It can be scary, but also fascinating.
Very interesting! (Out of curiousity, have you read the Laura Ingels Wilder “Little House” book series? I read them all some years ago and really enjoyed them and the descriptions of the settings in those prairies (and woods) as well as the routines her family took on to survive. The country really does seem all that much bigger in those expanses where the land just goes on and on.)
Thank you for your comment. I didn't read all, but I rewatched a few of the Little house series a few years ago. I also read "Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder" which is a great book (biography).
Caroline Fraser's book is exactly what I first thought of while I was watching your video. It’s a fantastic book on its own, but definitely needed to give the Little House series context. Glynnis MacNicol’s Wilder podcast is really good too.
Haven’t heard of the podcast. Thank you for the recommendation!
My people are from Oklahoma and Colorado. My father's people were forced to live in OK after their land was taken for European settlers. I think it's easy to forget the original peoples of the Plains, and how they lived their lives were so different from the people who tried to establish rooted communities.
Deborah, thank you for sharing this with me. When I started to read about the history of these places, I read about the tragedies of the lifes of the people who were there before the European settlers came and took everything. This never quite left me and I feel torn about the artwork I did ever since. I hope, I don't offend you in any way with what I wrote or created... It is so easy to forget (if your family wasn't involved and you are not from around).
No worries. I have been so distant from my heritage that I can't personally be offended, but did feel it was worthwhile commenting. The plains are rich with the earth's history and I appreciate your art.
And I am very thankful for your comment. We shouldn’t forget.
Thank you for sharing this with us..When you mentioned visiting the Great Plains I remembered your writings about Robert Adams who along with others spent so much effort in showing us the beauty and harshness of the land..I have already mentioned in a previous comment, Peter Brown and his book “West of Last Chance”, a document of which in the photographers own words, “ explores the beautiful and sometimes brutal”, landscape..
As landscapes change, give way to the behavioral habits of its inhabitants, I would like to journey along the very eastern seaboard of the US. While some of the older culture is still present and the developers haven’t built condos and golf courses, The lowlands of Georgia and the Carolinas, the rocky coast of Maine..Thanks again
Thank you, Rick! I can't get my hand on Peter Brown's books here in Germany, but I looked at his website and love his work. The next time I travel to the US I might have to bring a spare suitcase for all the books I want to have and are much cheaper and easier to get there.
And yes, I would love to visit Georgia and the Carolinas too one day... I have been to Maine in 2010 and have wonderful memories of it.
Susanne, I live in Iowa, and I love living in the Midwest. We moved here 20 years ago from the beautiful state of Kentucky, from which I thought I’d never leave. I love the farmland. I love the open spaces, especially the soft folds of colors in autumn. I drive by sad & abandoned homes many times when I am out. And they always draw my eye. I love the old grayed barns. But the thing I have grown to most appreciate is the sky. Wide open. Always changing. I can see weather come & go. I have driven when I click my phone taking pictures all around me, not even looking at where it’s pointing becuz stunning storm clouds surround me. And then the rain & wind hits.
And. The people of Iowa are sincere, down to earth, softly friendly, open like the land here, and like to help their neighbors. And their stores can be surprising w resilience. Your empty buildings are wonderful representative of the Midwest scenery but the opposite of its people.
Thank you for your work & letting me share.
This video is so moving. So
Profound, tells a deep story without one word. A true work of art. You will return, I have no doubt. Laura
Thank you, Laura! This is very kind of you to say! ♥️
Great post, Susanne! I too am a big fan of the Great Planes. Amazing light there.
Loved the video!
Thank you, Alex! Glad you enjoyed it.
It amazes me that so much is so similar to abandoned places we have out here in the PNW. Several of the places you filmed looked almost identical to places Ive been out here in Washington; had to do a double take!
You are right, there is so much history and story, it really makes one wonder. Perhaps there are records somewhere, preserving a tiny bit of the story left behind...
There might be one or two houses in the video from Washington to be honest. I once drove from Seattle to Chicago.
Oh, there are tons of documents out there. I will continue on that on Thursday! =)
Love your project, Susanne! It kind of reminds of collage so I am so drawn to them. And, your video gave a great visual reference of the expanse you wrote about. Looking forward to seeing more. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Stella! On Thursday I will share a bit more about the artwork I made inspired by these places.
Glorious. So filmic.
Thank you! I am not a video editor by any means, but I wanted to give people a little impression from my travels there...
So beautiful!
I resonate with it. One of my favorite parts about living in America is being able to go on roadtrips and drive through these vast spaces.
I think those are works are beautiful. It looks like they were exhibited?? In Germany?
Yes, I miss those trips. Driving for hours without passing a town - you can't do that here in Germany! ;-)
And yes, they were exhibited in Germany. I will share more about them on Thursday!
There is something so sad yet also magical about the miles and miles of big skies and wide open spaces of the Great Plains and your film encapsulates that. I've only visited the outskirts once when visiting friends in Texas. His family came from Arkansas and had a farmstead in the northern Texas dust bowl. He had a photograph of Roosevelt visiting his grandfather and family, surrounded by farm workers at that time. They lost everything and settled first in another part of Texas before moving back to Arkansas. Love your artworks - a fabulous project!
Thank you, Lin for sharing your personal connection to the place. What you wrote about their family was the fate of many people back then.
Sad and magical fits pretty perfect. For some reasons I can get very sentimental when I drive the dirt roads watching the land and the endless skies passing by.
I loved your film and post, sorry I didn’t mention that above!
Thank you, Gwen!
My father grew up in Kansas (born 100 years ago this year). I have pictures taken by his mother when he was a small child when they packed up a model T Ford to drive to California during the dust bowl. They eventually came back to Kansas and I’ve visited the small towns where his family lived. It is quite a fascinating story. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and going to Kansas was amazing, it is so flat compared to what I was used to. A completely different way of life to what I experienced, and it still is.
Oh, I only can imagine how it must have been for you to travel to Kansas to visit those places. Thank you for sharing this with me…
Wow! Utterly magical. The conclusion that everything passes is a beautiful reminder to cherish every moment of life, good or otherwise.
Thank you, Onotu!
Beautiful! Even if your longing place is a weird one, let it be. It’s yours!
Thank you! I am totally okay with it!
Thank you for sharing your experience. So good to hear you can appreciate all the beauty on an everyday basis. The landscape and of course the skies are amazing. And yes, you can definitely watch the weather rolling in. I experienced it myself a few times. It can be scary, but also fascinating.