This project began as a means for me to understand my new life as an army spouse living on a remote military installation. I began photographing my domestic space and the new objects in it- guns and magazines, gas masks, bullets, bullet proof vests, uniforms- trying to find my place within a world built around readiness for war. There were moments that felt surreal, like the first time a convoy drove by while I was riding my bike at Fort Irwin. Or when role players dressed like Afghan villagers were at Starbucks ordering lattes. These moments made me realize how unique military culture is and how as a civilian I had known very little about it. This work is a part of a larger project that explores what it means to be at war from within the military community.
To Be At War- On the Homefront (2013-Present) This project began as a means for me to understand my new life as an army spouse living on a remote military installation. I began photographing my domestic space and the new objects in it- guns and magazines, gas masks, bullets, bullet proof ve...
To Be At War- On the Homefront (2013-Present)
This project began as a means for me to understand my new life as an army spouse living on a remote military installation. I began photographing my domestic space and the new objects in it- guns and magazines, gas masks, bullets, bullet proof vests, uniforms- trying to find my place within a world built around readiness for war. There were moments that felt surreal, like the first time a convoy drove by while I was riding my bike at Fort Irwin. Or when role players dressed like Afghan villagers were at Starbucks ordering lattes. These moments made me realize how unique military culture is and how as a civilian I had known very little about it. This work is a part of a larger project that explores what it means to be at war from within the military community.
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I was pregnant with my first child taking a photo of Jen nursing her fourth. She seemed like the embodiment of the ideal mom and army spouse, Leavenworth, KS
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ACUs out to dry, Fort Irwin, CA
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Deja on Halloween, Fort Irwin, CA
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Lightning in the training area, Fort Irwin, CA
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Make our voice known! 9-11-01, Fort Irwin, CA
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Jiyeong and Serenity, Fort Irwin, CA
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Stop sign in the middle of the desert, Fort Irwin, CA
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At a B&B between moves, Leavenworth, KS
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Hitch in the snow. This was the beginning of a mass exodus from our street. Within a couple months, everyone moved, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Dana and Nathan on moving day, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Vicki and Haley, through the storm door, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Ryan, moving day, Richmond Hill, GA
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Army award and ear plugs, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Self portrait with John's night vision goggles, Fort Irwin, CA
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Denise and Andy right before deployment, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Kaila's first breath, Overland Park, MO
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Brittney and Brooklyn, days after deployment, Richmond Hill, GA
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“It’s been a challenge doing everything on my own especially when I’m not connected with my husband. The man I’ve built this life with that I love unconditionally.” Cheyenne's journal, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Dana, before the ball, Savannah, GA
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Amber and Josh visiting Josh's childhood home, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Teo and daddy's equipment, preparing for deployment, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Meghan, a former military police officer, and her son Ryder, Richmond Hill, GA
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Something the kids made in the yard resulted in our husbands doing double takes because for a second it resembled an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) marker, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Mila in the motor pool, Fort Stewart, GA
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Cheyenne playing football with her boys while her husband is away on a year long assignment, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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John had recently deployed and I was packing up the garage for my solo move with the kids when I came across this dusty old ziploc with a broken carabiner and his Purple Heart inside his tool box. I took the Purple Heart out and threw the ziploc and carabiner away. When we FaceTimed I said, "Your Purple Heart was in this dirty old ziploc with a broken carabiner. I threw the carabiner away." Next thing I knew, I was digging through garbage that was soaked in the stench and heat of Georgia, Richmond Hill, GA
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Josh and his mom, Theresa, looking out of the window of his childhood home, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Saying goodbye before Afghanistan, Fort Stewart, GA
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Cheyenne in labor, Overland Park, MO
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Mila crying right before John left to support efforts to combat COVID-19, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Socially distanced movie night, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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My wall neighbor's dog, after the storm, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Cheyenne and Karsyn, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Snow and fog, Fort Leavenworth, KS
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They arrive in the middle of the night. Sleepy eyes, searching. Some of the soldiers are crying. Maybe it's just mine. Homecoming, Fort Stewart, GA
