Mark Ruwedel: Seventy-Two and One Half Miles Across Los Angeles

”As time slipped by, I passed sun-bleached and stuccoed homes with empty front lawns; no one was on the porch ready with a friendly wave as I walked by. The walk was, in fact, an exercise in solitude because few Angelenos take advantage of their extensive sidewalks.” – Nigel Raab

For this project, Mark Ruwedel travelled across Los Angeles between 2011-2014, following in the footsteps of friend and author Nigel Raab. His carefully planned route spanning 72.5 miles began at his house in Westchester and ended at the Metro station in San Bernardino; a route chosen to cross as many geographic, economic, political and cultural boundaries as possible. The views and sights we see here reflect several legacies: from Raab’s own journey, to that of LA photographer Ed Ruscha, whose photo books provided an inspiration throughout the course of the project.

“Mark Ruwedel is something of a conjurer, a sorcerer or perhaps a delicately performed master of minimal contrivance.“ – American Suburb X