Maybe Tomorrow

Greenville, Kentucky locals have an expression: “if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute.” While it may be calm and sunny one moment and dark and stormy the next, cultural life is slow to change. From the pulpit, local Southern Baptist ministers continue to preach eternal damnation for those who challenge their literal interpretations of the Bible.

For my partner, Erik, each trip back to Greenville is filled with nostalgia for a carefree childhood spent playing in the woods, mixed with an unmet longing to reconcile with a place he still struggles to wholeheartedly call home. “Maybe Tomorrow” began as a way to better understand him and the place where he grew up. While photographing his relatives and their friends, I noticed that gender conformity is essential to fitting into this homogeneous community. I found myself drawn to individuals who fulfill and challenge the stereotypes of the “Southern belle” and “Good ole boy.” Over time, I’ve become more aware of the subtle ways gender norms are shaped, maintained, reinforced, and challenged.

Over the past five years, I have been exploring the possibility of an empathetic depiction of Greenville. Rather than reinforce problematic stereotypes of people living in “fly-over country,” I aim to depict this town and its relationship to gender roles and presentations. “Maybe Tomorrow” is ultimately an open narrative that considers how place informs culture.