Saskatchewan has more than her share of turn of the century artifacts...so many in fact that they are the norm rather than the exception.....
A harsh land with a bitterly challenging environment, so many of the initial settlements were abandoned and today the modern farmer probably farms a dozen or more homesteads.
Strangers viewing our landscape might find it desolate and depressing. Every mile or two is another abandoned house, barn, bin, vehicle.... Our landscape signifies broken dreams, lost hopes, failed challenges....it is a land of yesterdays....
To me, it portrays something else though...it shows the resiliance if those who have survived a harsh climate as well as economic challenges...it portrays a vast cross section of nationalities and personalities, those that have the vision and dreams to persevere against all odds. We are a culture comprised of dreamers and risk takers. Stubborn, strong and proud, many hold on to their homes long after common sense has dictated that the time has come to let go.
Being in the sign business in this environment is an entirely different animal..... I capitalize on a people's pride, the risk takers, and yes, their dellusions. There are days when that is a hard thing to do, puttiing my passion into what I know is a futile gesture. I'm a very soft person at heart and there are days when I find it very difficult to keep quiet and just do my job. Ultimately I survive by telling myself that each and every one of us has a right to our dreams, and in the grand scheme of things, my piece of the pie plays a big part in the visualization of dreams at a relatively small price. I put my heart into that, doing the best of my ability to give my customers their moment in the sun. There will be the odd few that survive against all odds...like me. Some will be my customers, some not... I only know that as time goes on, my radius of business grows....I suppose in the end, only the strong survive...funny - it's not really an attribute I have ever afforded myself.
I've thrown a lot of my emotions into photography in the past couple of years. technically I am not that strong, but what I am constantly drawn to is the stories left behind, that which still holds the dredges of lost hope, promise and dreams...not so much for what has been left behind, but for that which is yet to be discovered...for all the tomorrows, the dreams, the promises and the future.
Here are a few images that tell that story..may they serve as a reminder to each and every one of us, that life is about the journey. not the destination......
I also find that I find some diamonds in the rough when reveiwing them at a later date. Especially with the power of digital enhancement.
Denver Chapter of the Letterheads