Adams artist statement: "Every summer, traveling through the mountains photographing, I am somehow able to renew and relive my childhood. I regain my southern, mountain accent and approach my people with openness, fascination, and respect; and they treat me with respect. My psychic antennae become sharpened and acute. I love these people, perhaps that is it, plain and simple. I respond to the sensual beauty of a hardened face with many scars, the deeply etched lines and flickers of sweat containing bright spots of sunlight. The eyes of my subjects reveal a kindness and curiosity, and their acceptance of me is gratifying. For me, this is rejuvenation of the spirit of time past, and I am better for the experience each time it happens. These portraits are, in a way, self-portraits that represent a long autobiographical exploration of creativity, imagination, vision, repulsion and salvation. My greatest fear as a photographer is to look into the eyes of my subject and not see my own reflection.
My work has been an artist search for a deeper understanding of my heritage and myself, using photography as a medium and the Appalachian people as collaborators with their own desires to communicate. I hope, too, that viewers, will see in these photographs something of the abiding strength and resourcefulness and dignity of the mountain people."
Dig in folks. This is seriously rich material:
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cG2SV6Pnny4/SnmsDlkEUGI/AAAAAAAADsw/NDCplxcX93I/s400/Jimmy%27s-Mantel,-%2708.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cG2SV6Pnny4/SnmsDc_HAHI/AAAAAAAADso/g_yttZ_wCHE/s400/Napier%27sLivingroom89tiff.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cG2SV6Pnny4/SnmsDHjPK1I/AAAAAAAADsg/44hcAiQ5K3M/s400/AuntGladewith-Tom,73.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cG2SV6Pnny4/SnmsCz2wI_I/AAAAAAAADsY/-85IWDDMhc8/s400/Bert-with-Guitar,-%2792.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cG2SV6Pnny4/Snmr2UTWSwI/AAAAAAAADsQ/oAKWRkrZxlE/s400/Billy%26BethanywithCoonskins,.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cG2SV6Pnny4/Snmr2L44wRI/AAAAAAAADsI/meiWMdAlKjc/s400/Cecil_The-Woodworker_92_tif.jpg)
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cG2SV6Pnny4/Snmr2BBd0UI/AAAAAAAADsA/TTGSf8clkmM/s400/Chester-with-Hounds,-92.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cG2SV6Pnny4/Snmr1xj46ZI/AAAAAAAADr4/jdEsLphHnO4/s400/Scotty-with-Banjo-%26-Tom,-92.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cG2SV6Pnny4/Snmr1m8xp7I/AAAAAAAADrw/OTF3NGzOZ1M/s400/The-Flyswat92tiff.jpg)
1 comment:
As a designer/photographer living in NYC who grew up in rural Appalachia/Northeast Tennessee, I find these images to be very compelling, beautiful, and inspiring. Greatly appreciate you sharing.
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