American Main Streets began in 2009 after the phrase “Main Street vs Wall Street” became part of our lexicon during the 2008 election. I was inspired by vintage echoes of the past that everyday Americans cherished in community stores amidst rising mass retail consumerism. Main street movements strive to strengthen communities by preserving historic downtowns and conserving whispers of bygone days.

As Liz Goldwyn aptly noted, “What I always loved about vintage clothes is that you let the woman who wore it before you live on in some way.”

To perceive beyond storefront windows or realistic street photography I chose to interpret American main streets from multiple perspectives and create reflective art that invites a viewer to examine a scene from inside-out and outside-in. Images are captured ‘in camera’ with limited cropping and editing.

I focus on themes related to how a main street represents its town/state/region, elements unique to an era, as well as civic pride and patriotism. Images also portray cultural perspectives and social/economic factors.