Here to There

by Howard M. Christopherson

ICEBOX GALLERY presents Here to There,an exhibit of photographic images captured on road trips to Eastern SD by photographer, Howard M. Christopherson. Christopherson says, I didnt set out with a plan to make these photographs in and around Lily specifically, but I found myself inspired by the moment, guided by my interactions with the people and landscapes that compelled me to compose the images. Most of thirty-three images on display were taken over a 2 year period, Christopherson traveling numerous times to Lily, South Dakota, to conduct photography workshops, take time off to retreat on his own, and vacation with family and friends.

In 2006, Christopherson was driving home to MN after being a guest photographer at Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. Always happy to explore roads less traveled, he soon found himself in a ghost town with a name as charming as the town itself Lily. It was a perfect spring day, so he stopped and began to take pictures of some of the remaining buildings in the town. One of the buildings was a small house with a handmade For Sale sign hanging on the front door. A few days after returning home, he reviewed some of the images and decided to call the phone number on the sign. Two weeks later Christopherson bought the house for his family to use as a summer retreat. Today, Lily has become a second hometown for the photographer. He fit right in with the locals and special friendships quickly developed in Lily and the surrounding area.

Eventually the house was dubbed the Lily Pad and became the anchor for the Highway 12 Road Trip Photography Workshop, an idea born when photographer friend, Sid Kaplan, came out for his first of many visits to the Lily Pad. The drive West from the Twin Cities to Lily was always an adventure for the two photographers, an endless stream of new discoveries on each and every trip.

Lily is located on the Coteau des Prairies (Highland of Prairie), the name given to this high plateau by early French explorers. Opened to settlement after the Civil War, this rich farmland produces corn, soy beans, wheat, and much, much more. Many of the landowners are descendents of the pioneers who staked a claim in the 1860s. This part of SD is blessed with abundant water, and the many lakes are alive with fish while the surrounding prairie is home to many species of wildlife.

Digital Prints