‘Our hair stood on end as the air around us became supercharged. There were telegraph poles and hailstones the size of oranges dropping out of the sky’I am a proud American, although that notion has been politicised to death in this country, where you’re not considered patriotic unless you’re a Republican. For my Spina Americana series, I chose to explore a part of the US where people are solidly conservative and won’t budge – partly because they feel abandoned by the rest of the nation.This area is typically referred to as “flyover country”, and has been written off politically, socially and culturally for decades. I wanted to meet and learn about its inhabitants while also sharing my own fears and hopes for our mutual land. It involved making myself vulnerable, but if I only approach people who are like me, what am I really gaining? Continue reading...