The Wabash River provides a geographic thread for this photographic essay that examines the function of gender, race and class in the process of creating the American Identity. The Wabash is the subject of Indiana’s state song and is a symbol of the romantic rural interpretation of the Midwest, from which the contemporary photographs draw contrast. Wabash, Far Away has two components that connect the people to the land. A grid of black and white aerial images of the river communicates a sense of fragility and emphasizes the shared experience of those who live in the river’s path. These aerial photographs are accompanied by color portraits and documentary images that ground the project in a contemporary context.

The Wabash rises from a farmer’s cornfield, a few miles inside the Ohio border, before crossing into Indiana. It avoids the state's largest population centers, but waters from the river touch a cross-section of society indicative to the region’s large swaths of farming and rust belt communities, where families can be traced back for generations. This system of generational inheritance, which transfers land, oral history and values, is facing significant pressure as demographics and attitudes change in America’s Heartland.

The people and communities that collaborated on this project deserve the relevancy and respect that comes with visibility and representation. Empathy gives us the awareness and sensitivity to understand the concerns of others, which is paramount if we are to cohabitate respectfully and peacefully. Yet, the power of empathy isn’t relegated to understanding a person’s pain, plight, and/or challenges. We can also share in each other’s pride, joy, and expressions of love.

All images were captured digitally, with a archival pigment print output at varying sizes including 13x19, 20x24 and 24x36.