Cotton

My current series, “What Remains", documents rural areas, including a once-thriving coal mining community near where I live on the Cumberland Plateau in Middle Tennessee. This series reflects the absence of economic development as well as a strong desire to persevere. I find great positives regarding relationships with people like Cotton Abston, a man with an indomitable will. Title: Cotton Willie Ray “Cotton” Abston, the philosopher king of Cravenstown. This consummate mountain survivor has done it all. At the age of twelve, when his daddy broke his back working in the mines, Cotton quit school and went to work on a farm. He worked for “eats” he said and he loved the sweet tea. Cotton married Zona when she was 17 and he was 16. They had two children, Carol and Eddie. He worked in the mines, in the logwoods, and I’m pretty certain a sawmill or two. Hospice has come for Cotton four times. A couple of strokes, various ailments. He’s been in the wheelchair for years now, confined to the house or porch. Materials: I present my photographs using an acid free heavyweight cotton-poly blend paper, elegantly textured featuring a semi-gloss satin surface. All my work is printed and presented by me using the best archival materials in my studio. Each piece is signed and numbered. I source materials from a local sawmill to personally handcraft a wood frame around the gallery wrapped canvas and finish with a dark walnut stain and wax.