2026 SPE Annual Conference: Catalyst for Exchange
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print this pageHistoric Americana: Royalty of the Road Trip
Lightning Round: Allegra Castro
Saturday, September 14 - 9:40AM to 9:55AM
ELIF 305
Endless in variety, influence, and capacity, the human footprint on the world is one that cannot be erased. In ways both good and bad, humanity has changed the fabric of time and never fails to blow through the barriers of limitation that appear before it.
The body of work I will present emphasizes an appreciation for people and their heavy hand in the overall development and extraordinary nature of the world as we know it. My intentions are to motivate and inspire all people involved - both as subjects and viewers, to realize their own inherent sense of overwhelming value and ultimate royalty in the way they steadfastly shape history through their everyday actions. Humans are so indescribably powerful and capable, and it is about time that we start to realize exactly what it is that we are - nothing less than monarchs of mankind.
Less conceptually and abstractly, my presentation will be based on the travel and documentation of the illustrious "mother road" or classic Americana icon - Route 66 - which I received a grant to complete during the summer of 2018. The route is something that people from all walks of life all across the U.S. (and beyond) hold in high regard. It has a rich history of documentation from all ends of the artistic spectrum. Within the realm of photography, the work of artists like John Schott and his collection of Motel images (to give one example) from along the route are renowned as being very influential and definitive in the history and development of landscape photography as it is known today. The ideas that built this country stem from the experience and concept of the freedom and adventure involved in being "out on the open road." The esteem that Route 66 carries in American society makes it the perfect subject for a study and display of the eminent and powerful voice of the people who define this country. My intention with the project was to create a diverse and wholesome body of work featuring the faces and personalities of those individuals in the context of some of the deepest roots this nation has. I wanted to capture who this nation is as a people- as Americans, in classic American context; both of charm and spirit. I visited 10 iconic attractions along Route 66 and spent a day at each crafting a deliberate and impactful image to be shown in the final body of work. This resulted in a 12 day journey across the U.S. from Illinois to California, stopping at each of the six states between them that together make up the route. The images were presented in a gallery setting in an altar-like sacred context, further immortalizing my subjects and placing them in a state of high reverence.
speaker
Allegra Castro
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