Photographer Richard Sharum embarked on a three-year journey through America’s central corridor, often labeled “flyover country”, to explore the nation’s core amidst growing political and cultural divides. Traveling from the Canadian to the Mexican borders, he traversed a 100-mile-wide swath encompassing parts of North Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. During this expedition, Sharum engaged with over 4,000 individuals and captured more than 14,000 photographs, culminating in his book, Spina Americana.
Sharum’s black-and-white images focus predominantly on the working class, highlighting manual labor and daily life in the heartland. His subjects include migrant workers harvesting oregano, a firefighter in action, and a cotton candy vendor at a local fair. By concentrating on these often-overlooked communities, Sharum aims to shed light on the shared humanity and resilience present in America’s central regions.
The term “flyover country” has long carried condescending implications, suggesting that these central areas are merely spaces to pass over rather than destinations of interest. Sharum challenges this notion by documenting the rich, diverse lives within this corridor, emphasizing the significance of these communities in the broader American narrative. His work serves as a mirror for Americans to reflect on their identity and place within the nation’s current historical moment.
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