Onward: Dreams of the Road

This isn't easy to do for many reasons. For starters, I've always struggled with asking for help. I pride myself on independence, and I'm also acutely aware that there are many people who have way less than I do, which is another reason this campaign was difficult to initiate.  2017 was filled with horrendous tragedies, and there are plenty of campaigns on this platform alone that are more worthy of your funds than the one I am about to present to you.

Here it goes:

Ever since I was a very small child-- now I'm only a much more large child-- I have dreamed of hittng the road. No plans, no real destinations. Films and novels have always depicted the essence of this experience with a great variety and outcomes, good or bad, but all of which have retained an air of romanticism for me. No matter the result, that feeling of this dream has always persisted to be strong, but sadly out of reach.

Well, I'm going to do it. For two months, May and June 2018, I'll be on the road and see what it's all about, and how I fit into it. With me I plan to take my cameras, an acoustic guitar, and tons of film to document whatever I may come across. By doing this, I hope to create an autobiographical photographic and literary document about my experience. I will journal everyday about what's happening and how I feel with as much transparency as possible.



The plan is that, in May, I will begin from Knoxville and journey West across the South. Once I hit the coast, I will begin my ascent up the West Coast to WA-- I may breach into Canada-- after which, ideally in June, I will begin driving east across the plains, and then back south to TN. I will drive in anyway other than a straight line, diving into any small town or city that peaks my interest. I will of cousre post periodic updates on my Instagram (@jake.harrison.miller ) in regards to my whereabouts and such, but all photos taken during the trip will need to be chemically processed and scanned, since I will be shooting film the entire way. 

There is at least some idea of places I want to visit: Montana, the Dakotas, Washington, Oregon, and Northern CA, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and all of the national parks in between, especially the Grand Canyon, which I've always dreamed of seeing.

I cannot successfully do this with money I have saved alone, and I would prefer not to use credit cards for 100% of the trip. My running budget for the entire trip is $7,000, which is for gas, food, film, the occasional motel, and any issue that may arise. I will be sleeping in whatever vehicle I end up taking, and staying with whoever opens their door to me in the towns I'm in. With that being said, if you live around any of the areas pictured in the map (above), and are willing to have me, please let me know.

*The map is merely something to work from. The final route may be different depending on weather and other criteria*

If you're interested in rewards for your donation, then please visit my website ( https://www.jakeharrisonmiller.com/ )  for purchasing prints, which will also help with funding. 

A note about my work as an artist:

My goal with my photography is to blur the line between the personal and the socio-political, between the autobiographical and the spiritual. I like to find myself in areas long forgotten, or the ones that are passed without much thought, these places that will be gone and forgotten as time works itself into the cracked  facades of generations passed and creates the next landscape for the future onlookers and dreamers. I don't find myself unique in this way, but a partner to all artsits with similar and equally important perspectives and goals.

If you are to find youself unwilling to donate, please do me the honor of keeping up with my journey and follow me on Instagram. 

Thank you,
Jake Harrison Miller
 
The images presented here were taken in TN, and are all a part of larger, unpublished works.

***Update***
Here's a working list of destinations-- places I want to visit or drive through.

Trip destinations, in order of geographic chronology from Knoxville.


Jackson, MS
Dallas, TX
Amarillo, Lubbock, TX
Albuquerque, NM
Santa Fe, NM
Denver, CO
SLC, UT
Twin Peaks, UT
Moab, UT
Canyonlands, UT

Utah is up for grabs. Follow the wind to the Grand canyon


Grand Canyon, AZ
Sedona, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Death Valley, CA
Joshua Tree, CA
Big Sur, CA
San Francisco, CA
Yosemite, CA
Redding, CA
Eugene, OR
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA
Vancouver, CAN
Victoria, CAN
British Columbia, CAN
Calgary, CAN
Great Falls, MT
Butte, MT
Yellowstone, WY
Billings, MT
Badlands, SD
Fargo, ND
Lincoln, NB
Chicago, IL

May be out of money by now, so the next options will be dependent on what’s left.


Columbus, Cleveland, OH / NYC (screw it)??? / Lancaster, PA / back to Knoxville











All Images copyright © 2018 Jake Harrison Miller. Do not reproduce or share photos without my permission.