“The Great Game” was the name given to the 19th century conflict between Britain and Russia for political control of Central Asia. The 20th century resulted in communist domination of the region and their winning “The Great Game.” The 21st century offers an ongoing struggle to overcome the multi-layered devastation left by the former Soviet Union. Russia, Ukraine, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are caught between the superpowers of the European Union and the Peoples Republic of China. They face the challenge of rebuilding and restructuring in a rapidly changing world.

This portfolio is like travel writing with a camera, although my pictures contain few scenic vistas or landmarks. Evidence of the Silk Road with mountain views or vast steppes is sparse. The empires of the Khans remain mostly buried in the dust. My interpretation is of the present. What is life like now, how is culture manifested, and where is the influence of our global interconnectedness? These questions linger as I make portraits, landscapes, and celebrate what is— a quilt, a chair, a railroad station, a corridor, a loaf of bread.