Seven years ago I set out on a journey to discover my country and who we are. I called the project An American Mosaic. I was not looking for answers, but ethos, who are we? Our country was changing before us and I knew nothing about it, really. I learned a lot about how our places shape who we are. I learned a lot about myself. I learned to listen.
I had no idea where the project would ultimately take me and if it had an end. Since I was capturing the conversations on video, and shooting a lot of places, the idea of a thirty minute film was kicked around. A picture book, full of images of the diverse landscapes that are America? In the end, I wrote a book. It takes you along with me as I drive the back roads in America, wandering streets and finding a diverse people to have a conversation with. Sitting down and listening to them tell me about their lives. 130 people in 34 states.
The book is not the end of the project. There is no end to what I started. However it is a moment in our time, in the history that we are making. I was just scratching at the soul of our country.
“BOOM! It’s a Big Country for an Old Man” by John Van Dyke can be found at BARNES & NOBLE, Amazon, and select booksellers.
I want to share what I found with you. BOOM!
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