Untitled [Print & Photo Media]

Artist Statement Greetings, and welcome to the ODU undergraduate research symposium art exhibit. My name is Josh Williams, and I am a Print/ Photo Media major graduating in May 2018. The work that is being exhibited is part of a photo series that I sought to explore after numerous spontaneous photo trips/explorations. One of the many subjects I like to shoot is urban exploration- such as lost and abandoned sites throughout Virginia and the United States. For this series, I have chosen to focus on man-made structures/ architecture that was once full of life, but eventually was abandoned and with time has begun to be reclaimed by the Earth. This world seems hell bent on destroying more and more land to make way for massive apartment complexes and other human excess, this series shows the resiliency of life. This series reminds us that life will always find a way and overcome. This series highlights the strength and beauty of the sites featured as they undergo the earth’s inevitable process of reclaiming its land. The appreciation of these photos goes beyond even the aesthetic value, as most sites were long since forgotten, and hidden well off the beaten track. Many sites involved a great deal of planning and strategizing in order to gain access to them. The degree of difficulty in locating and navigating throughout these locations fueled by genuine passion for getting lost and exploring brings all the more satisfaction and excitement to this series. Thank you for your time and visiting. I hope you all enjoy the series, and hopefully it motivates and inspires you to go out and explore yourselves