I never know how the city will have changed when I go home, just like my friends and family. Every time I go home to visit, I look forward to walking around the city and visiting old streets and buildings that I have come to know well. My bonds to these spaces are similar to relationships I have with my friends. Some buildings, once cared for, are looking haggard and older. I can tell it’s been through another winter and the ice storm left some permanent damage. Other spaces that were once a diamond in the rough are now doing well, polished and renovated, now housing a cute café and full of life.

I’ve been exploring the streets of Kansas City since I was a teenager. I like the grit of the city, the presence of the old buildings, the familiar signage and new surprises. The textures and colors have always attracted my attention, and in a lot of ways, I didn’t realize what a cool city I grew up in until I left in 2002. Going home in a lot of ways is about revisiting a space that has changed and grown while I have. Each Christmas and summer we meet, exchange pertinent stories, take pictures, and go home. We are both more mature and have a broader perspective on life, and we both miss each other when we are far away.

I have attached some pictures from my last trip home in August. I was conscious of Walker Evans' black and white photographs of spaces and buildings. I also thought of another photographer I refer to as my friend, Aaron Siskind, who captured the cracks in the streets and textures of pealing paint in New England. I admire both photographers, and felt like they walked with me as I responded to the spaces around me.
Enjoy these latest photos.