Ryann Ford

American
Bio Statements

Rest Stops - Vanishing Relics of the American Roadside

Ryann Ford: Near Thackerville, Oklahoma - I-35

Ryann Ford: White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Ryann Ford: Monahans Sandhills State Park, Texas

Ryann Ford: Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Ryann Ford: Near Ft. Stockton, Texas - I-10

Ryann Ford: Near Clines Corners, New Mexico - U.S. 66/I-40

Ryann Ford: Near Organ, New Mexico - U.S. 70

Ryann Ford: Near Pojoaque, New Mexico - U.S. 84/285

Ryann Ford: Anthony, New Mexico - I-10 - New Mexico/Texas Border

Ryann Ford: Near Abiquiu, New Mexico - U.S. 84

Ryann Ford: Near Augustus, Texas - U.S. 84

Ryann Ford: Walker Lake, Nevada - U.S. 95

Ryann Ford: Near Millers, Nevada - U.S. 95

Ryann Ford: Near Big Bend National Park, Texas

Ryann Ford: Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Ryann Ford: Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area - Tucson, Arizona

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Ryann Ford Bio

Awards | Solo Exhibitions | Group Exhibitions | Collections | Education Favorite Photography Books

Awards
2004	Judge’s Selection, 2004 Personal Work Juried Contest, Advertising Photographers of America - San Diego, San Diego, California

2004	Board of Directors Special Selection, 2004 Personal Work Juried Contest, Advertising Photographers of America - San Diego, San Diego, California

2000	First Place, Rim of the World District Art Show, Lake Arrowhead, California

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Solo Exhibitions
2007	Silent Sea, The Mike Napoliello Gallery, Hermosa Beach, California

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Group Exhibitions
2009	Slideluck Potshow, Austin, Texas

2007	The Los Angeles Art Show, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, California

2007	Get : Art, Bonhams & Butterfields, Los Angeles, California

2007	Focus on AIDS 12, Farmani Gallery, Los Angeles, California

2007	Venice Art Walk & Auctions, Venice, California

2006	2nd Annual Fine Art Auction, Music Box Theater, Hollywood, California

2006	An Evening of Art and Architecture, Gallery 825, West Hollywood, California

2006	Biannual, The Mike Napoliello Gallery, Hermosa Beach, California

2006	Point of Origin, Lauryn Taylor Fine Art, Carmel, California

2006	Gem, Galley 825, Los Angeles, California

2005	Salton Sea: Lost Lakes and Salt Dreams, San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands, California

2005	Southwest, Redlands Art Association’s Fine Arts Gallery, Redlands, California

2005	Snap to Grid, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, Los Angeles, California

2005	Strange Oasis, Brooks Institute of Photography’s Montecito Gallery, Santa Barbara, California

2004	Open Call L.A. 2004, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House (Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery), Los Angeles, California

2004	2004 Personal Work Juried Exhibition, Advertising Photographers of America - San Diego, AIGA Center for Design, San Diego, California

2004	2004 Personal Work Juried Exhibition, Advertising Photographers of America - San Diego, Photo Imaging and Design Expo, San Diego, California

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Collections

Mulvane Art Museum, Topeka, KS

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Education
1999	University of California, Riverside, Studied photography through the Summer Academy Program

2000 - 2003	Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, California, Bachelor of Arts in Photography – Graduated Magna Cum Laude

Favorite Photography Books

Highway: America's Endless Dream, Jeff Brouws

Chronologies, Richard Misrach, (photo-eye Cat# DP273)

Crazy from the Heat, James H. Evans, (photo-eye Cat# UT173)

Ryann Ford Statement

Artist Statement
Literally, before our eyes, rest stops are vanishing from the landscapes of America. All over the country, rest areas are losing the fight to commercial alternatives: drive-thrus at every exit and mega-sized travel centers offering car washes, wi-fi, grilled paninis and bladder-busting sized fountain drinks. They're on the chopping block for many states, their upkeep giving way with tight highway budgets. Louisiana has closed 24 of its 34 stops, Virginia, 18 of its 42; pretty much every state in the country has reduced its number of rest areas, or at least cut operating hours. And they're not just being closed, they're being demolished. "They're just toilets and tables…" you might say. But if you take a closer look, you will see that they are much more. For the past 53 years, rest stops have given us rest, relief, hospitality and nostalgia. They have been an oasis of green to walk your dog, have a picnic, study the map. For some, what was seen and read at rest stops could be all that was known of a region's historical, archeological, geological, or cultural significance. Many people these days only know of rest stops as a blur from the car window. Many don't know the historical significance of these quirky little roadside relics.

I aim to systematically document these places before they are gone forever. Fast-food restaurants have homogenized the nation's highways to the point where every place looks like every other place. They are more than just a place providing service to the public, they represent uniqueness in a world headed toward commercialization. Rest areas connect travelers to local places in a way that fast food restaurants, gas stations and truck stops cannot. Interchange business, while also important to highway motorists, has become a homogenous collection of uniform structures that one encounters without significant variation in almost every part of the country. While rest areas were originally designed to provide only the basic amenities of parking, bathroom, and picnic table, developers soon found within them the opportunity to reconnect people with the places they were traveling though, to add some humanity back to interstate travel. We can all relate to rest stops and what they represent as social and architectural icons of Americana. To me though, they are disappearing waysides of memories, anticipation and mystery of what the next one down the road will look like, and lastly they are a relevant benchmark in an era of bygone leisure travel. This project is an ongoing road trip of discovery and appreciation for what these rest stops represent. My need to systematically document them before they are gone forever was the sole purpose of my project. I want to show how each rest stop is different and what it may have to offer, whether it is historical significance, charm, local color, or unique architecture. I hope to capture their spirit and give viewers an enlightened outlook towards these wonderful gems.

Process Statement
All images were captured on medium format film and drum scanned.

Ryann Ford Books
Available from photo-eye

Favorite Monographs:

Chronologies, Richard Misrach, (photo-eye Cat# DP273)

Crazy from the Heat, James H. Evans, (photo-eye Cat# UT173)