William Rugen

The project is a continuing snapshot of the American West and the space it takes up in my consciousness. The seemingly limitless physical space makes us view it as transformable, disposable and unforgettable. This leads to many interesting overlaps, both spatial and temporal. There is often a visible intersection of the past and present and a wary line where the open meets the inhabited.

I am also interested in how elements inhabit the space within the frame. Every object has its own place and looks as if it has been placed there for just this picture, like a diorama in a museum. Each image like a momentary still life of the continuing history of the American West.