I’m hooked by the mystery and adventure of the open road. Growing up in New York City there's a scant chance to escape on a road that runs for hundreds of miles through desolate landscapes. The closest I had to the feeling of freedom was from a long bike ride or skateboarding with friends. I find a way to escape the feeling of being contained in the “rote-normal” life. During the pandemic I was able to get myself a car. I figured this would be a great mechanism to go on fun adventures with my friends and girlfriend. But most of all, I can, all on my own, go on a long drive.
A long drive by myself is meditative. Whether i’m listening to music, enjoying a great podcast, chatting with a loved one or just enjoying the sound of my car smashing through miles and miles. My eyes are constantly wondering about the beauty around me. When I see something that sparks my interest I typically fancy it. I make it real, I will give an object a symbolic reason for its existence. A road sign is never just a sign, an abandoned building in the desert has a story behind it. With a camera I am able to capture exactly what I see. I am able to express what I felt at that moment. It is a truth serum made of mechanical components.
On September 2nd 2023, I took a road trip. My goal was to make it far west enough to see mountains. I packed a light bag of clothing, snacks and a few rolls of film. I drove throughout the first night until I reached Nashville Tennessee. Once there, I was able to visit my girlfriend as she was staying with her parents during that week. My sister was also able to drive down from Kentucky and visit. It was a great feeling of comfort as I knew I was a bit nervous for the rest of my trip. I spent one night in Nashville and used the time to map routes west for the next few days. My point of interest became Denver Colorado. My plan was to take the I-70 west until I got to Denver then take the I-80 back east until I made it back home to New York City.
I remember driving with the feeling of not knowing what I was doing. There were feelings of excitement, joy and oftentimes loneliness. I just knew that I wanted the experience of a road trip. With what people considered not much to see throughout the middle states such as Kansas. Hours of driving through what people consider flat earth was interesting because it was new to me. I was able to experience a different view of a country I love. Along my journey I started to fall in awe with the trucks on the road as well as gas stations in the middle of nowhere. There is so much open space outside of the cities. Miles and miles of land with so few people. Many places that I passed seemed to be abandoned for quite some time. I was a friendly invader, a city kid enjoying the middle of nowhere.
There will be future adventures, deeper explorations absent of an exact route to travel or timeline to return. You never forget your first. Yet with each new trip I will take in the lonesome beauty of road travel with clearer eyes, better prepared to document in film and memory the vastness of the USA. In the thrill of a historical westward expansion, I await new experiences through the curious spirit of American me
