Nate Smallwood. Lexington, Kentucky, July 2022

Sunday July 3 2022

Rolled into town early this morning and started to get my bearings and the layout of the city somewhat into perspective. My only other trips for KDPP had been to Louisville – a drastically different city in many regards. Initial passes through different neighborhoods gave me an idea of places to return to for photos. There was campus, a big university like a bunch of others, somewhat straight out of central casting. I’m staying closer to downtown near Rupp Arena in a little Airbnb that’s cozy enough. Throughout the day I stumbled across some African immigrants doing hair on their porch, there was a bit of a language barrier and I left a card that I hope they reach out to me from –  I also met Joe and Sarah also on the porch of their home. Joe was playing guitar and Sarah making jewelry. Spoke to a few other folks and as daylight diminished I poked around a little at dusk to see what any of the new places I was driving past and through looked like at night. 

Monday July 4 2022

Fourth of July. Started downtown at a Pro-Choice rally. Spoke to one of the activists who I hope can connect me with some folks. The protest itself was adjacent to some sort of Fourth of July festival so it was an interesting cross-section of people. Old patriotic types in stars and stripes Guard and the rightfully pissed off young activists doing their best to disrupt the normal going ons. 

From there, there being downtown, I went to campus – apparently – didn’t exactly have a destination but thought until I heard back from the activist about meeting anyone else I could at least drive around and hopefully luck into something. Luck into something I did – while driving around the off-campus housing rented out to college students I stumbled across an honest to god bonanza happening in a front yard. Inflatable pools, a keg and person doing keg stand, hammocks, biceps and buttchecks as far as the eye could see. I parked and tried to explain the project to one of the party goers and he seemed interested but cut the loud music that was carrying the party so I could make an announcement explaining the project. It’s been a minute since I public spoke but I did my best and everyone seemed cool with my presence so for the next hour and a half or so I hung around these college kids doing what college kids do – drink, cook out, throw up, fall down, play games, prank each other, all very entertaining. 

Later in the evening I went out in downtown to see the nightlife and find out where folks were watching fireworks. There was a decent amount gathered at the water steps a little fountain in downtown so I photographed around there for a while. 

Tuesday July 5 2022

This morning I started off in Sarah and Joe’s neighborhood it was a little run down but I had some decent luck there before so figured why not. No sign of Sarah or Joe and not many of their neighbors out and about. Visited an African American Cemetery but it began to rain. Very little luck in stopping by businesses but a cleaner’s told me to swing by another time so there’s that to return to. 

Wednesday July 6 2022

Stopped by a giant dress emporium, an old mansion and converted so each room was wall to wall dresses. I was hoping for some bride to be shopping with friends or something that might be more visually interesting than an almost customerless store but that’s what I was left with so I made friends enough with the owner to take a portrait and get on my way. From there I poked around town and went back to the cleaners from yesterday. She was extremely friendly and gave me a tour of the entire store/operation. Like the dress shop it was filled with clothes but devoid of any human beings. The sewing machines there didn’t look like they had been turned on in decades and the shelves and piles of buttons collected dust. She did me the favor of posing for a few portraits and I went on in search of more. 

My day ended by poking around a very empty downtown and atop a parking garage there was Janeeva and Zaveion watching the sunset. They allowed me to photograph them and a few hundred feet down were another couple, Ukrainian, doing the exact same thing. I spoke to them for a minute about my travels in Ukraine and their travels here and went about our lives. 

Thursday July 7 2022

Today I decided to head to the Lexington Country Club – because why not. I figured I would be turned away at the door. My attire, age, and skin color being my main ‘hindrances’ in being allowed in to these sorts of places historically – but was pleasantly surprised when I was welcomed by a staff member, head of communications or marketing or something like that, and was given a tour and pretty much given free roam. I got plenty of “erm….can I help you with something?” from various other staff and members but once I told them I had whatshername’s permission I was pretty much in the clear. Took a portrait of a caddy and hung out in the club house for a bit but later on spending time in the kitchen was much more lively and enjoyed the company much more. 

Later on I went to the Legends and Gnomes baseball game. An old high school friend worked for the team in some capacity and left a ticket/press pass at will call so I took full advantage and got there shortly before the national anthem was sung. Such a nice smaller ball park and easy to navigate around. I used to shoot baseball type things for the newspaper back when I was on staff but it was nice to go to one of these things without that responsibility of capturing whatever critical play was completed on that day but more to focus on the people and general different person who went to a Legends and Gnomes baseball game on a summer night in Lexington. 

Friday July 8 2022

Very solid day Despite the weather – gloomy, rain storms periodically – I managed to meet a handful of people I was able to make photos of. First being a barber in Greyline station, a converted bus depot into a little market and business incubator. In addition to art and craft type booths there was Rodney James, dapper as hell and looking the part with everything a barber might need. I made a photo of him, as well as a disc jockey at a radio station that is based there. 

Later in the day I returned to downtown where I met a hat maker, Nick Godbehere, who went by Panda, and spent time in his shop watching as he tinkered with making hats. He said that the derby of course was the busiest time of the year – duh. He was incredibly friendly and recommended a blues bar nearby. Later that night I spent time outside a Motel, one that had fallen from prominence and its glory days and was adorned by old TVs in stairwells and the pool filled in and now a miniature front lawn. At night though it was a sketchy but somewhat visually appealing sight.