I began photographing these decals years ago after flailing for a while on a personal project that was heavy. Maybe heavy isn’t the right word. In fact, I know it’s not. The more accurate word is solastalgia, a word I heard recently but didn’t know existed.
Solastalgia is a term coined to describe the distress or homesickness experienced when someone remains at home but their environment has been negatively altered, making it feel unfamiliar and distressing. It's a form of homesickness that occurs while still physically at home, due to changes in the environment that affect a person's sense of place and identity.
I live in a complex place that is often not viewed as such by the outside world. As a photographer, I appreciate nuance and will also be the first to admit sometimes things feel too complex. I needed an outlet, a pressure-release valve, a project that felt more like a scavenger hunt than a soul-crushing swim upstream that was sure to not make one damn bit of difference.
But, I’ve learned that even simplicity often comes with complex layers of stories and voice and identity and pride. Pride can be tricky. I love the line in the Avett Brothers song The Perfect Space:
I wanna have pride like my mother has
And not like the kind in the bible that turns you bad
I developed this series of images into a project I called Miner Pride (which is still ongoing).
Some the decals made me laugh. I needed to laugh. Sometimes, I was grateful to not have to explain to a small child in the car what the decal meant.
Sometimes, I got to make a picture of the GOD BLESS AMERICA sign and a picture for Miner Pride within minutes of each other.
Sometimes, I would wander the Walmart parking lot or the Southside mall and find them.
In 2014, I decided to make a tiny book of these photos and share it online. Almost right away, folks started asking if they could buy a copy. I wasn’t prepared for that, but requests continued. I ended up doing an edition of 25 books (plus the artist proof in the video below).
The process was incredibly fun. I used the most basic of materials: cardboard from photo paper boxes for the covers, laser jet prints, a glue stick, masking tape, and an embossed letter maker. That’s it. That’s all. Ten photographs between the covers measuring approximately 2.5” x 3.25”.
Here’s a video walkthrough of Miner Pride:
I’m reading Screaming with the Cannibals by Lee Maynard.
I’m listening to Charlie Overman.
I’m rewatching The Last of Us, Season 1 because my wife is a good sport and agreed to watch it with me before the new season.
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Roger
Solastalgia, I learned a new word today for a condition I’ve experienced many times.
Lee Maynard, a great author from WV who exiled himself to New Mexico for many years. But, he retained his WV roots returning often for book events, many times making the trek by motorcycle. That’s a great book of his you’re reading, I especially liked ‘Crum’. I never met him but we had conversations via email, he reviewed some of my writing and was very encouraging to get my book published. Unfortunately it happened after Lee’s passing.
Thanks for you Substacks, as a southern WV bred, born, and raised, now exiled to Florida, I enjoy the back home articles.
Well, I learned a new word sitting here on the back porch as the sun goes down. Solastalgia. I guess I live too far from home to experience it in its true meaning, or perhaps not. Something to ponder.
Keep up the great work.