Artist in Training

So, I have begun the next immersive journey: Virginia by rail. Over the next few, most likely several months, I'll be taking Amtrak, to every Virginia town with a passenger station. 22 last I counted. I've done a pilot run, visiting Ashland and Fredericksburg. More on this particular trip in the next post.

With my past projects, I was intentional in my goals as both documentarian and artist. I overwhelmed myself with maintaining photographic, video and audio coverage, such as the time lapse of the entire 2,300 plus miles of Route 1 through the front windshield. I'm taking a more laid-back and wait-and-see approach this time around. I haven't really settled on my core mission with this project, other than to find it as I travel.

I do have a concept of an idea, though. With all of these projects, a common theme has been traveling through communities and the common thread that links them. That bonds them. Communities you'll find along a highway, a river or a train track. As I travel, I plan to keep that theme in mind - what connects us.

U.S. Route 1 took me through many communities which in past generations, prior to our massive highway system, was the route many east coasters traveled. Route 1 was a main artery and there was really no way to drive around these communities as we do today. As I travel to these old town centers by train, that theme continues: what if we'd invested in our train infrastructure rather than our highways?

America embraces individualism and we no doubt love our vehicles. We ditched trains for cars during the 20th century and the Highway Act of 1954 literally cemented that, creating the highway infrastructure we use today. But was this particular path for the better? Would we be more connected if we had the ability to take a commuter from Fredericksburg to Charlottesville daily? Is there a sense of togetherness that is shared through public transportion? As a very divided country politically, would the lines blur if we spent more time together on trains, and would our populations be more diverse in every nature if one could take public transportation from town to city and vice versa?

This is not a social science experiment, but considering today's America, it will be hard not to think about us as a network of communities and wonder what could have been if we were a little more connected. I'll focus on capturing these towns, train travel, and hopefully capture the spirit of life in Virginia towns and cities, as well as life on the track. More to come on the next trip, which may be the eastern leg, possibly Petersburg and Norfolk. Thanks for riding!