Rolling Meadows Farm II is a photographic documentation of a small second-generation farm located in Newbury, OH. It is represented through objects, the artists home, and the land that they encompass. Through photographs of the farm, the work references the relationship between the artists farm and other farms in small Midwest towns and cultures. They are of how the artist remembers it both then and now. The images include documentation of various discarded objects in the landscape, such as scrap metal, washing machines, old tires, bicycles, etc. some of which have been around for decades and some recently added. These objects represent goals never reached as well as memories of growing up. The land itself does not change quickly, however; change can be observed through buildings, repairs, and objects that occupy the land.
The art of collecting in a small Midwest town based on Midwest culture is unique. Unique in a such a way that objects collected instantly turn into various art forms. Each object that occupies Rolling Meadows Farm II’s land can be considered a work of art. If its goal is to be scrapped, it can be melted into something new or it can be cut, wrapped, and distorted into a work of art. These objects are collected and obtained for a set goal in mind (i.e. scrap metal for donation), not just because they are wanted. However, these goals are not always met, and the objects become part of the landscape.
The work is presented in book form because it allows the viewer to view multiple photographs at once, in order to get an appropriate understanding of the farm. The book is organized in a specific sequence and layout. The layout is based on, subject, colors, tone, and visual flow. For example, some pages are created based on I-spy aspects, image detail, a subject’s linear structure, and/or image tonality.