Mary Anne Erickson

Another Roadside Distraction / The Landscape of Vanishing Americana


Artist Statement / October 2009


Thinking back on my childhood, I remember my Dad carefully planning our summer vacations so we would eventually see the entire United States. His goal was for our family to visit every National Park and historic site this country had to offer, and we did. At one point in high school, I figured out that we had actually visited every state in the Union (except Alaska and Hawaii). The usual routine would go like this: we would wake up at 4:00am to make sure we “hit the road” before things got congested. We would map out our course with meal breaks factored in, and around 3:00-4:00 o’ clock we would look for a nice motel to spend the night. Once we had checked into our room, I would put on my swimsuit, find the pool (hopefully they had one) and jump in the water. Back in those days, most places didn’t have air conditioning! Dad would ask the desk clerk for a good recommendation for dinner and off we’d go to one of the local favorites. (Chain restaurants didn’t really exist back then). These establishments extended their hospitality to friendly travelers, proud of their local specialties.


In the 1950’s post-war America was a place where dreams could come true, there was a sense of limitless possibility, abundance for all, and fun just around the corner. The roadways of America invited families to explore vacation playgrounds from sea to shining sea and celebrate the rich diversity of regional landscapes and experiences. Whether it was the mountains, the beach, the desert, or local food favorites, those who opened restaurants, diners, and motels to cater to travellers used these regional themes in their choice of a name, signage and architectural designs.
The beginning of the end came in 1956 when the Interstate Highway system was created. Simultaneously, the advent of modern hotel-motel chains such as the Holiday Inn ultimately won the hearts of Americans and the fast-paced world passed the old roadways by, along with many of the businesses that had previously thrived there. We all know the sad fate that befell many of these businesses, as today some relics still remain either abandoned, fallen into decay or torn down to make room for a new strip mall or parking lot.


You can still find tourist areas where the buildings and iconography of the past have been preserved, but most are vanishing as we speak. Areas that have inspired the paintings in this show are the beach communities along the Maine coastline, the Jersey Shore, and Cape Cod, The Adirondack Mountains of New York State, The Apache Trail in Mesa, Arizona, southern and central Florida, the Oregon Coastline, and ski areas in Utah and Idaho.
I also have great admiration for those who share my love for the road culture of our past and have chosen to preserve it. Rae Stang of Lucky Chocolates with her 1956 baby blue Ford pickup truck, “Honey” and The B-52’s Kate Pierson’s Lazy Meadow motel on Route 28 in Ulster County, New York. Kudos!


The concept of “Vanishing America” is not a new one. Many artists and photographers have also found visions of our past and the interface with today’s world compelling. What we call “America” is always in flux, changing and evolving. The “Americana” I refer to is the roadside culture I grew up in. Many of these structures and signage were from an even earlier time, but just showed up in my post 1950’s world. The essential message in that world was that anyone could have their own small piece of the American dream and many did.


I started this work in the early 1980’s immortalizing a number of Florida motels and as time has passed my fascination with this theme has continued to grow. I consider these paintings part of a larger work still to come documenting what remains of this culture. I envision myself cruising the old highways in a small motorhome with my paints and canvases, my camera, my dog Molly, and my best bud Richard (if I can steal him away from the kitchen!)


Happy Trails,
Mary Anne Erickson