RICHARD SHARUM – SPINA AMERICANA
2024-11-11“In reaction to the gaining momentum of a fractious American identity, and what it means for our future as a nation going forward, ‘Spina Americana’ (American Spine) attempts to understand a critical and often misunderstood area of the United States, in a time of political division not seen here since the 1850s.
I decided to focus my attention on a 100-mile-wide path of land, 50 miles east/west of the geographic center. It runs vertically from Mexico to Canada, traversing the spine of the United States, as an independent and unique feature that deserves its own examination, where most of its occupants have been ignored politically, socially, and culturally for many decades. The commonly used expression for this area is “flyover country”, which denotes a land of banality and unimportance, culturally and otherwise.
This series reflects my general philosophy towards photography as an anvil for activism, as well as my opening argument for a new direction in the hope for a more collective and persistent empathy. As Americans, our duty, I believe, is to always remember that in the end, the only thing holding the line between our honour and the windblown dust of a collapsed empire, is us. My hope is that this work and the work that is to come, will serve as a call to action for individuals convinced they are powerless against the forces actively opposing this very kind of national cohesiveness.”
Richard Sharum
Opposite – Morningside, South Dakota, 2022
Exhibition runs through to November 23rd, 2024
The Hulett Collection
1311 E. 15th St.
Tulsa
OK 74120
