“Roadside Conversations” by photographer Francie Schroeder offers happy, sad, humorous, and enigmatic glimpses of Americana.
The new exhibit opens this week at Middle Street Gallery in Washington, Va., on display through Christmas Eve. The artist will be at the gallery today, and on Dec. 10, and Dec. 23. Works by other members of the non-profit artists’ cooperative will be offered as well.
“This is a photographic appreciation of the humor, creativity and beauty found every day along the back roads and streets of the USA,” Schroeder said.
“Driving across the country is a feast for the eyes. Just as dogs get led astray by their noses, I get led astray by my eyes. I may chug along way under the speed limit, back up suddenly for a better look, or park and jump out into mud puddles or oncoming traffic. In the process I acquired an eclectic group of images.”
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Her color photos includes a mysterious image of a decrepit red and white car flanked by two enormous red and white chickens, all doing nothing much along a country road. Another picture shows an apparently nude woman caressed by a huge snake and a dog, all perched atop a shop offering tattoos. The store front is barred and dark, but a neon OPEN sign beckons us. Neither traffic nor people are seen in these pictures.
“Restaurants are an important part of my cross country travels. I make every effort to stop in small non-corporate places,” Schroeder said. For about 15 years I took my camera into restaurants and photographed the ambiance, the patrons, and the staff. This summer I selected the best images and published them in a book called Dining Out.”
Dine out in Little Washington and stop by to marvel and wonder at Schroeder’s images. They might give you the itch to travel.
Middle Street Gallery offers paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, glass, and multi-media art by its members at 311 Gay St., lower level, with an entrance on Main St. across from Ballard’s. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Friday-Sunday. See Middlestreetgallery.org and 540/227-5066.