Dave Anderson East Lansing, Michigan, b. 1970

Dave Anderson’s photographs from his Rough Beauty series were taken in Vidor, Texas, a town known for extreme poverty and racism as it was formerly the site of Ku Klux Klan activities. The reputation of the town and its isolation is in part what brought Anderson to Vidor, along with his insatiable desire to travel across the country on the road. While these photographs were taken almost 20 years ago, they resonate with contemporary issues of race, isolation, and poverty. The people of Vidor are adamant that the labels placed on them are not true to their actual character and that they are a kind, close-knit community. In June 2020, a Black Lives Matter group successfully staged a peaceful protest in the town. Troy’s Battle depicts a man standing in the center of the image holding a long gun with both hands and a cigarette with his right hand. The man stands in front of what looks like a partially built home with insulation and plastic protecting a window. What could be the entryway for a door is what frames the man’s face. His stance is relatively at ease despite the title Troy’s Battle. The ambiguous nature of the title leaves the viewer to question whether the battle has already happened, is in the process of happening, or will ensue in the future?