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From the rush of a mountain stream and the tranquility of deer grazing in the morning mist, to the whirl of a combine, the changing seasons and the simple charm of a country fair, A Love for the Land reflects on the beauty and dignity of rural life in the American Midwest.

To complete the photography, I followed and photographed a farm family in the idyllic western Appalachian hill country over the course of a year. A Love for the Land speaks to the deep bond existing between the land and those who till its soil, as well as the pioneer heritage and the individual family farm way of life that is gradually disappearing from the region.

A Love for the Land played a seminal role in the first classical concert devoted entirely to honoring agriculture and the rural way of life. It also greatly facilitated first-time partnerships between the orchestra, the local historical society, a major university, the Farm Bureau, 4-H and the Future Farmers of America.

PREMIERE: The Cleveland Orchestra

Contact Westwater Arts for the orchestral repertoire for this photochoreography.