From Stormbelt by Robert Leslie

From "Stormbelt" by Robert Leslie

Virtual Exhibition

UK born Robert Leslie first visited the US as a child in the 1960s and the endless horizons, energy, and enthusiasm left an indelible mark. Inspired by Barack Obama’s inaugural message of hope, Leslie turned his camera to America for the first time; to photograph its’ “Sun Belt.” Three years later he retraced the same route from Miami to Los Angeles to see how hope had been rewarded. What he found was grim. Communities once vibrant were filled with quiet despair. Stories of financial corruption, recession, and foreclosures poured forth from his car radio and the impact of climate disruption was present at every turn; droughts, forest fires, and hurricanes had left their mark. In still but beautiful images, Leslie, an outsider, captured a view of America that needed documenting. Masterfully, he photographed the often overlooked sadness of people who lost their homes, their benefits, their jobs and especially their promise of hope. These images, several shown in our exhibit, are portrayed in a fascinating book titled Stormbelt, 2013.

All works are C Type Prints.