Two Tales of One City

This is the first chapter of a project that captures the divisions among the people in Spokane County as a statement about the divisions in the world between people who seek a democratic way of living and those who advance authoritarian ideology.

While on assignment as a photojournalist with Faith and Values Spokane (FaVS), a local publication that informs and builds faith and non-faith community through digital journalism and online, I captured moments within three events which happened in January 2025.  One was two days before the inauguration, one on the day, and one on the following Saturday. The stark emotional and ideological contrasts between the first two experiences and the third became the inspiration for developing this theme and exhibit.

 As a pastor and an artist, I experience art as essential to addressing broad divisions between people. Art can move through our defenses and reach anyone who is willing to engage with its emotional and transformative potential. 

I present these images in 9 pairs, all photographed in Spokane, WA. The stress between the beliefs of these neighbors has been on the rise since 2017. The image pairings reflect the emotional differences with the hope of immersing the viewer in the tension.

 I have displayed the paired images in a progression where the viewer can enter the harsh reality between the group’s different beliefs and move to deeper conversations with images of opposing ideology. In the final images for Two Tales of One City,  two young people move out from the frame with the hope that the viewer is left to contemplate the future for the next generation.

 I have chosen the medium for the images to further the experience of the contrast between these Two Tales of One City. The images of people in homemade hats and signs are in color and would ideally be printed on metal, a matte finish for a soft feel, and are set ¾ inch from the wall. They look vulnerable and frail, but the inclusivity, strength, and endurance are felt both in the colors and in the metal. The images of people with their vehicles accessorized with manufactured flags, stickers, and signs are printed in monochrome and would ideally be on textured paper mounted on 3/16 inch foam board. They look superior and powerful and yet are fewer in number and fragile. The use of color vs monochrome and metal vs paper further my personal commentary about the differences between these groups. The 18 images are placed in 9 pairs which augment the tension between them.

More about the regional history can be seen at  https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/mar/27/north-idaho-and-spokane-have-been-a-historical-hot/