About :

The photographs in Young Blood investigate children, teenagers, and young adults raised amidst a backdrop of economic decomposition in the neighborhoods of Michigan’s auto towns. Adolescence and early adulthood are characterized by both fragile uncertainty and exciting potential. I see these same characteristics reflected in the rebuilding process of the region.

I am particularly interested in the cusps between these age ranges since they are pivotal moments in the formation of individual identity. I frequently encounter the subjects in my pictures in the streets or in empty lots, and they are commonly without adult supervision regardless of their age. I am interested in how these specific locations shape the aspirations and attitude of their residents. I grew up skateboarding in many of the actual locations in my photographs. My personal connection to these places allows me to easily converse with my subjects.

The circumstances in Detroit are a large-scale representation of these socioeconomic issues. There was also a significant ripple effect throughout the state. My project takes a regional look at the process of becoming an adult in economically challenged communities that incorporates places like Saginaw, Flint, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Ypsilanti, as well as the Detroit metropolitan area. All of these cities were part of the auto industry at some point and have dealt with parallel challenges.

The images in Young Blood were made over a ten-year period on visits back to my home state. The Tulsa Artist Fellowship, Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, and The University of Tulsa generously provided funding for this publication.