John Mattson
P H O T O G R A P H Y
An ongoing photographic exploration of declining, rural communities in Texas
Quiet Places - Texas Towns
In 1982 my wife and I were living in San Angelo, Texas and were new to the area and the landscape. For relatively inexpensive entertainment we would hop in the car with our cameras and a road map to explore the many farm roads and small towns of the surrounding area. These small towns, some nearly extinguished, held a fascination for us, which is still with us today.
These places are modern day ruins and many may one day virtually disappear. We are witnessing a vanishing of rural, small town life. Our photographs are documents through the eyes of artists. We see beauty in the obvious signs of the passage of time. A building not maintained falls victim to the laws of nature and eventually caves in and becomes overgrown – time and nature the victor.
The images undoubtedly evoke a sense of nostalgia, but more than a yearning for that which no longer is, we wish to acknowledge what once was. We have a curiosity for other times and other experiences.