I grew up in Akron, Ohio—an area in Northeast Ohio surrounded by the remnants of the Industrial Revolution that came and went. Growing up in a once-booming city that no longer radiates the same growth and integrity, you are left with only a shell.
In this shell, my friends and I were forced to make our own fun—creating characters, taking photos, and making videos.
Since those days, there has been an imaginary string pulling me back to the place. I have moved on to other things in life, but Ohio is a place that challenges you to work with what you’ve got. It’s not the prettiest, but that’s what makes it special.
These photos are of some of the people I met along the way, the art we created, and an ode to the underbelly of it all.