Over thirty years ago, I left Wisconsin to pursue a pharmaceutical research career in Boston. Despite living on the East Coast and my many relocations, my connection to "home" was solid. But as our nation began its trudge through the current political divide, I felt disconnected from the place I once cherished. I realized I had fallen out of touch with much of the country and, certainly, current Midwestern culture.

Eventually, this identity dissonance gave way to intense curiosity about the central states' political and geographical landscapes. In 2018, I struck out for the Midwest for a 6-week road trip on a lark. History lessons long forgotten returned as my route wound through towns that once drew fortune seekers, warriors, pioneers, and hustlers. Equally moving were remnants of towns bearing scars of industrial decline and the lack of plausible, forthcoming economic solutions. No matter the view, utilizing landscapes and interiors of local community spots seemed the most neutral way to collect impressions of a place.

Over the last three years, my continuing travels have criss-crossed over 30,000 miles in the geographic middle of the USA. My work to capture this present cultural moment was ignited by personal curiosity, but now it progresses in the hope that my photos could foster greater understanding and maybe even contribute to a meeting somewhere in the "proverbial" cultural middle.