Tim Green - Route 66

The Original American Dream.

Thank you to Rachel for this week’s review. She writes:

Monday’s talk was by Tim Green, taking us through images he’s brought back from several photography tours along parts of Historic Route 66, including through New Mexico, Arizona and California.

His talk reminded us of that we also had recently by Tony Worobiec, both photographers having a similar attraction to American buildings and cars left abandoned in the vast open US landscape. And this is perhaps unsurprising, as Tim was literally a pupil of Tony’s in his younger years, and the two are now good photography friends.

But whilst Tony’s photos are perhaps more in that landscape, Tim’s are more inspired by his love for Americana and “the American Dream” as found along the classic Route 66. So the dilapidated buildings tend to be the motels, garages and trading posts left empty and neglected as the towns along that route dwindled as the passing traffic abandoned them for the mighty bypassing Interstates.

But to those desolate victims, he then loves to add photos of the survivors. Of the Art Deco buildings (old and new), the archetypal neon signs, the classic cars, even the World’s Largest Flip-Flop! All the places where those who share this American Dream strive still to keep the spirit of Route 66 alive.

Tim has been several times to share in that spirit, literally standing on that corner in Winslow, Arizona. I am sure he will be back.