The EMPTY AMERICA Project

I did a thing....


When the global pandemic touched down on our shores (well, when we started to do something about it) I was in the middle of rehearsing a play. Then after that I was to fly to NY to start another play. There were also a few standup comedy shows and corporate gigs sprinkled in there.


Then: Shutdown. My calendar was suddenly empty for the next 4 months.


To make matters worse, I’d been living on the road, gig to gig, for the last year and a half. So there goes the housing as well.


So when you’ve been living on the road and they tell you to “shelter in place” and “stay home,” the road becomes your official home.


But I couldn’t not be creative.


I thought: What is fascinating about this unprecedented time? What would be of interest to those stuck inside?


I decided to document with pictures and video how some of the busiest, most populated areas of America look when the country is locked down.


I didn’t have much of a plan except to go and do it. I had a few cities in mind. No real agenda.


Wait. Not totally true. I did have a SAFETY PLAN. Let me just outline that before you get itchy trigger fingers.


I was in my car alone 90% of the time. I had plenty of hand sanitizer, wet wipes and masks. When I stopped for gas, I used a wipe to handle the pump and push the buttons. If I went inside for a snack or coffee (which was rare) I’d wash before-hand, make my purchase, then wash before I left. Most meals I ate in my car from groceries. If I did want something else, I’d get curbside and always local (with a nice tip) and wash before and after handling that. Most times I’d get enough food to cover 2 days worth of meals just to limit engagement. I rarely saw anybody (hence “Empty America”) and if I did have a conversation, it was from 6 feet away. The trip lasted 3 weeks. I’d estimate I engaged with 25 people total. About half of a CostCo run, I imagine.


I don’t know what I was setting out to find except to share an interesting aspect of this pandemic with whoever’s read this far.


Of course, I’m still processing. It was over 8600 miles, 17 major American cities (and a bunch of small ones), too much coffee to count and 3 weeks on the dot. It’s a lot.


For you, maybe you get something deep out of it. Maybe you’d scroll through and go “Hunh.” Maybe it’s just a distraction or an additional stress. Maybe you do none of that.


That’s ok. Art is meant to be made and shared. It’s up to you how you receive it.


I may turn all of my shots and videos into a mini-documentary at some point. Hopefully then I’ll have something deeper to glean from this journey as I’m still getting used to this new world and and not being on the road.


Until then, enjoy the trip....