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With Signs Following
September 3, 2007    File under: America , Lomography / Photography , The South

It's here. And I'm proud as a brother that my brother has made and published these photographs.

But, also as a native and a student of the South, I'm grateful for this work.

Because, I'm Joe's brother, it's hard to pretend to any sort of objectivity, but this book is one of those I would immediately have to buy had I seen it in a bookstore, for here is a window on the world through which I drove for many years, the cross-haunted landscape of the Deep South, often grayed through weather or familiarity, but always indelibly signed with the signs of Christ, of God, of church — from simple roadside memorials to the folk-apocalyptic sculpture gardens like W. C. Rice's Cross Garden in Prattville, Alabama.

Maybe all of the South is like this. I remember when I used to drive I-77 and I-81 into the middle of Virginia, I'd see a trio of crosses from Galax to Wytheville and beyond, almost alarming in their size, uniformity, and ubiquity, and also challenging insofar as the center cross was often painted yellow or gold, which I thought somehow missed one of the points of Jesus's crucifixion, among the lowly from whom he never stood apart.

But—maybe because I've logged more road-hours in Alabama than anywhere else and because that's where my brother's logged most of his road-hours—the scenes in this book take me back, both to Deep South roadside and to the practice of driving just to drive, to think, and being caught be these signs more often than I can remember.

You can get a preview here.

This weekend's celebration was wonderful, and it involved lots of eating, on which more soon (we have photos), but for now, let me say, go get this book.

Posted by Jake Adam York at September 3, 2007 8:40 AM



COMMENTS

This is wonderful. What a thoughtful & needed book. I'll be picking up a copy asap.

Congrats to your brother, Jake.

Posted by: Jeff Newberry at September 3, 2007 2:56 PM




Ah, yes, W.C. Rice's Cross Garden. Made the pilgrimmage there when I was at AU. I'm glad that's on the list of places I've visited in my lifetime. Strange and interesting and disturbing. Your bro's book looks super cool.

Posted by: Saja Hoffpauir at September 7, 2007 11:43 AM




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