Interstates: The American Mirage

Hohe, William

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/128161 Copy

Description

Title

Interstates: The American Mirage

Author(s)

Hohe, William

Issue Date

2025

Keyword(s)

• spray paint
• ethnographic survey
• Americana

Date of Ingest

2025-05-08T12:18:51-05:00

Abstract

This image captures a pivotal moment from The Interstates Project, a multimedia exploration by William Hohe and Charlotte Watson that examines American road trips, identity, and performance along Route 66. Shot in Amarillo, Texas—a city emblematic of Route 66’s past and present—this photograph documents a performance where "INTERSTATES" is stenciled onto a layered, ever-evolving graffiti wall, marking a moment of interaction with history.The act of inscribing this space mirrors the project’s engagement with the transformation of American mythology. Route 66, once a symbol of freedom and expansion, now stands as a relic of nostalgia, fragmented by time, development, and cultural shifts. The red paint, smeared onto the participant’s hands, signifies both a tangible engagement with history and personal stakes in this journey. The rusted, weather-worn metal reflects the passage of time—an echo of how The Interstates Project investigates the fading myth of the American road trip.As part of a 5,000+ mile journey through 14 states, this photograph is one of many capturing the personas, performances, and landscapes encountered along the way. It invites viewers to consider how roads shape identity, how travel constructs persona, and how movement preserves collective memory. This moment is one stop in an ongoing investigation of America’s shifting landscape.

Type of Resource

• still image
• text

Language

eng

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2025 William Hohe

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