Sarah had been commissioned for an art show to produce an image inspired by a card, specifically the king of clubs. She invited me to collaborate, and I eagerly agreed. Little did we know, this project would lead us on an adventure we’d never forget.
Life got busy for us, as we were newly dating, and the project slipped under the radar. Eventually, we dedicated a day to shoot the king of clubs image. I had envisioned a somber-looking king who had slaughtered his only daughter to retain power on his throne.
We took a series of images, starting with the king of clubs. The lighting was perfect, so we decided to take more photos, which I will include here. It was a sunny day, with light gently filtering through the trees. I took some beautiful pictures of Sarah, and she took some of me, which I usually avoid, but we went for it.
We finalized the picture quickly as the show approached. Life and the film industry kept me busy, but we managed to agree on the best image. We had two options: print the picture and ship it or, print it and deliver it ourselves. Any sane person wouldn’t make a 16-hour trip from Ottawa, Ontario, to Iowa, but we felt adventurous and decided to hand-deliver it to John Little, on online friend of Sarah’s, and one of the organizers of the show.
John, our gracious host, gave us his bed for the two nights. During the 16-hour drive, I kept questioning our decision to stay at a stranger’s house. I was both nervous but excited. I was also looking forward to seeing Chicago again and experiencing new things with Sarah.
Almost as soon as we crossed the border into Michigan we could see the 4th of July celebrations in full effect. Across the skyline we passed through a military airshow, watching fighter jets cross the sky in formation. A highlight of that show was one jet screaming across the highway at low altitude almost giving me a heart attack as I could feel the soundwaves form the engine pass across my chest. The long drive was beautiful as we passed through Illinois. Chicago was bustling as always and just as characteristic as ever. As we approached the border of Indiana to Iowa, the 4 lane highway became a road, it was dark and the 4th of July celebrations were in abundance all over. Fireflies lit up the farmers fields all across the landscape. Sarah, for the record, loves fireflies.
We arrived in Dubuque, Iowa late at night. The town looked charming with its brick buildings and historical vibe. John met us outside his apartment. I instantly loved the art on his walls. He turned out to be the best host, and I hoped he appreciated the Canadian moonshine whiskey I brought as a gift.
The next morning, we visited several places Sarah had researched. We spent hours taking macro shots at The Arboretum and the Mines of Spain, and capturing stunning images of Sarah dressed as an elf queen. The sun’s rays through the trees made the shots magical.
In the evening, John treated us to a Chinese buffet before heading to the art show venue, The Smokestack. It was a groovy bar downstairs and an art gallery upstairs, filled with wonderful artwork. We admired the pieces, took photos, and enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere.
After the show, we relaxed at a bar with some wonderful locals. The next morning, we made the 16-hour trip back, reflecting on the incredible adventure we had.
I have never really been on a lot of road trips, but this experience was unforgettable. It inspired us to create a series of art shows. On September 6th, I invite you to Winchester, Ontario, to see our art show themed “Monster Mash.” We will feature 24 local artists, and their works will be available for purchase and displayed in a virtual gallery as well as local businesses in the area.
If I hadn’t taken that 32-hour drive, Sarah and I wouldn’t have connected the way we did. We got so much more out of this spontaneous trip than we ever imagined. If you’ve read this far, let me know in the comments and share your own road trip stories. There’s a lesson to be learned from every journey you take.
Photos Credit Sarah Stuart & Kenneth M Bowman from Sarahstewartphotography.com
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