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The Streets of COVID-19 in Middle America (~250+ artworks)
*
The Poetry of Everyday Life on the Streets
of Middle America During the U.S.A. COVID-19 Breakout of 2020-21
An evolving street photography exhibition blending stumbled-upon Americana
with the shared American anxiety, revulsion & above all caution during an uncomfortable Trump-infested
& pandemic-infected election year… … … and beyond…
. . .
…an ongoing project since March 12, 2020…
by Gary Mark Smith
Caution:
Window Shopping the Plague #1
Horton, Kansas (population 1,776)
75 Highway: Two Kansas Cowboys Heading North Into Town
Horton, Kansas
A Lonesome Tree Along Side the Tracks
Topeka, Kansas (population 127,473)
Resistance: Lawrence Barber Shop on the Day the Lockdown Began
Lawrence, Kansas (population 97, 286)
75 Highway: Three Kansas Cowboys Heading North Out of Town
Horton, Kansas
Caution:
Supersaturated Car Radio News Talk Show Anxiety???:
“Can the Air Conditioning That’s in My Business &
In My House and in My Car Spread the Virus?”
rural Iowa
(painting)
75 Highway Cowboys Heading North DreamScape (x16)
Horton, Kansas; rural Iowa; Auburn, Nebraska
Divided Highway: Masks Required
Winter Park, Colorado (population 1,051)
The Emptied Out Streets of Lawrence, Kansas
at the Beginning of the Covid-19 Lockdown
Caution:
Lawrence Alley Doll With Issues
Lawrence, Kansas
Colorado COVID Kid DreamScape x16
Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Post Cluttered Library Nap: Free Parking
Omaha, Nebraska (population 408,958)
Masking Up the Kid on Elkhorn Avenue
Estes Park, Colorado (population 6,352)
Colorado COVID Balloon DreamScape x16
Boulder/ Rocky Mountains, Colorado
COVID Lunch Out With a Strawberry Lemonade on the Side
Omaha, Nebraska
Caution:
Lockdown Rainstorm at the Corner of Seventh & Mass
Lawrence, Kansas
Essential Services #1 DreamScape (x16)
Lawrence, Kansas
COVID Dining Out in Downtown Lawrence #1
Lawrence, Kansas
Pampering Ailing Pooch Across the Street at Hotel 21c
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (population 649,021)
Essential Services #2; Big Guy Cheeseburger Allure (x6)
Auburn, Nebraska
Essential Services #3; Big Guy Cheeseburger Allure
Auburn, Nebraska (population 3,460)
Covid Lunch Out DreamScape (x16)
Omaha, Nebraska; Holton, Kansas; Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
Masked Mona: Bored of Isolation
Boulder, Colorado
Essential Services #4; Big Guy Cheeseburger Allure DreamScape (x16)
Auburn, Nebraska; Omaha, Nebraska
Empty Cafe at Coffee Time in Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
The Abandoned Streets & Sidewalks of Downtown Lawrence
Take a Toll on a Lawrence Busker’s Take DreamScape (x16)
Lawrence, Kansas
Post Cluttered Parking Meter #28
Lawrence, Kansas
Colorado COVID Mask Quilt x17
Winter Park/ Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Post Cluttered Parking Lot Paving Pole Man
Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
Lawrence Post Cluttered Street Lamp DreamScape (x20)
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence Barber Shop Window Wash
Lawrence, Kansas
COVID-Time Gathering
Idaho Springs, Colorado (population 1,794)
Masked Man on Oklahoma City Streetcar
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
University of Kansas Icons Doing Their Part (x18)
Mount Oread; Allen Fieldhouse; Naismith Drive; Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence Barber Shop Bike By
Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
When You’re Ready, Were Ready
Ottawa, Kansas (population 12, 267)
Virus-time Stoplight Splatter Painting #1 (x3)
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence Alley Still Life #1
Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
Virus-time Stoplight Splatter Painting #2 (x9)
Lawrence, Kansas
Window Shopping the Plague #2
Paola, Kansas (population 5,670)
Virus-time Stoplight Splatter Painting #3 (x9)
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence Alley Still Life #2: A Coronavirus Growth Graph Metaphor
Lawrence, Kansas
Vertical Coronavirustime Stoplight Splatter DreamScape #4 (x21)
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence Air Dog at the Corner of Seventh & Mass
Lawrence, Kansas
Conducting the Post-Cluttered COVID-time Leaf Cleanup at OKC Civic Center Music Hall
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Madrid Cafe Bike By
Madrid, New Mexico
Lawrence Alley DreamScape During the Coronavirus Spring of 2020 #1 (x16)
Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
Serene Wellness at 8,615 Feet
Empire, Colorado (population 303)
Lawrence Alley DreamStrip During the Coronavirus Spring of 2020 #2 (x5)
Lawrence, Kansas
Masked JayHawk
Mount Oread/ Lawrence, Kansas
American Boot Bench
Walden (North Park) Colorado
Crossing Vermont Street on the Way to Work on the Other Side of Town
“I Used to Take the Bus, But…”
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence Alley DreamScape During the Coronavirus Spring of 2020 #3 (x24)
Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
Give Some Space/ Wash Your Hands/ Wear A Mask
Estes Park, Colorado
Post Cluttered Parking Meter #7
Lawrence, Kansas
COVID Polka Dot Balloon Bouquet Hair Flip
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Sleeping in the City in Downtown Omaha Quilt (x17)
Omaha, Nebraska
Post Cluttered Flower Pot Bike-by
Omaha, Nebraska
Caution:
Bad News Being Taken in the Wild at Ninth & Mass
Lawrence, Kansas
Carriage Drivers Kids (x4)
Omaha, Nebraska
Please Wait to Be Seated
Boulder, Colorado
Carriage Drivers Kids
Omaha, Nebraska
“Led by God”: Post Cluttered Dino’s Storage & His Big Can of Paint
Omaha, Nebraska
COVID Masked Stuffed Moose (x3)
Gould, Colorado
Essential Services #5; Post Cluttered UPS Delivery
Omaha, Nebraska
COVID-time Help from Mom
Madrid, New Mexico
Native Market Jewelry Tryout
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Caution:
Too Soon | May 17, 2020
Graduation Cancelled; Memorial Stadium Locked Up and Empty; Hundreds of Determined Celebrants
with Lockdown Fatigue Materialize Anyway & Are No Longer Social Distancing
Lawrence, Kansas
Street Sweep at 10th Street Black Lives Matter Tribute
Kansas City, Missouri
Street Sweep DreamScape (x16)
at 10th Street Black Lives Matter Tribute
Kansas City, Missouri
A City Bus Drives Past a Black Lives Matter
Mural at the 18th & Vine BLM Street Tribute
(Adrianne Clayton)
Kansas City, Missouri
COVID Surge & Black Lives Matter Effect in Middle America DreamScape (x20)
Omaha, Nebraska; Holton, Kansas
No Fear: What Freedom Is to Me:
Post Black Lives Matter Revolution 2020 on the Streets of Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Post BLM Revolution 2020 Cleanup #1 DreamScape (x16)
Omaha, Nebraska
Caution:
Homeless on Wheels Talking on His Computer Phone Planted at Alley CellSpot
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
A City Bus Drives Past a Black Lives Matter Street Tribute at Troost & E. 31st Street
(Michael Toombs)
Kansas City, Missouri
Black Lives Matter Street Tribute at 18th & Vine DreamScape (x14)
(Adrianne Clayton)
Kansas City, Missouri
Black Lives Matter Revolution COVID-time Fist Bump
Omaha, Nebraska
BLM Street Tribute at 18th & Vine Quilt #1 (x13)
(Adrianne Clayton)
Kansas City, Missouri
Post Black Lives Matter Revolution 2020 Cleanup #2
Omaha, Nebraska
Post Black Lives Matter Revolution 2020 Cleanup #3 (x7)
Omaha, Nebraska
Post Black Lives Matter Revolution 2020 Cleanup #4 (Complicated by COVID Protocol)
Omaha, Nebraska
BLM Street Tribute at 18th & Vine Quilt #2 (x13)
(Adrianne Clayton)
Kansas City, Missouri
Post BLM Post Cluttered Wait For A Friend
Omaha, Nebraska
Post Black Lives Matter Revolution 2020 Cleanup #5 (Taking Down the Plywood)
Omaha, Nebraska
Post Black Lives Matter Revolution 2020 Cleanup #6 DreamStrip (x7)
Omaha, Nebraska
Post Black Lives Matter Revolution 2020 Cleanup #7
Omaha, Nebraska
United Against Racism
(well… about 53% of us anywayz…)
(Adrianne Clayton)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma & Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.
Homeless at Omaha Dandelion Stand
Omaha, Nebraska
COVID-19 Social Distanced Dinning Wait x9
Nederland, Colorado
Colorado Rocky Mountains
COVID Cafe Man & Pacified Baby
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Man Explaining Street Lamp
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Caution:
Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #2
Lawrence, Kansas
A COVID-time Pickup Meeting Out on the Street Quilt x15
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma & Rocky Mountains, Colorado
A COVID-time Pickup Meeting Out on the Street
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
COVID Outdoor Dining at 9,000 Feet Up
Walden (North Park) Colorado
Supersaturated Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #3 (x11)
Lawrence, Kansas
(painting)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Post Cluttered Parking Meter #21
Lawrence, Kansas
Morning Outdoor Dining Post Cluttered COVID Heater Rollout
Boulder, Colorado
Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #4 (x16)
Lawrence, Kansas
Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #5 (x16)
Lawrence, Kansas
Empty Seventh Street Rainstorm
Lawrence, Kansas
COVID Kiss Helping Hand Woman x12
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Boo Fire: The Colorado COVID Wildfires of 2020
Jackson County, Colorado
Mullen Fire at Night
At the headwaters of the Platte River, Jackson County, Colorado
Caution:
Mullen Fire Kindling (176,840 acres burnt)
At the headwaters of the Platte River, Jackson County, Colorado
Colorado Mullen Fire From Helicopter Retardant-Drop Reload Depot at Front Lines
At the headwaters of the Platte River
Jackson County, Colorado
Wyoming Mullen Fire From Colorado Ranch
Jackson County, Colorado
Cameron Peak Fire Sign (x3): (215,000 acres burnt)
Jackson County, Colorado
Colorado Mullen Fire Daytime Autumn Smolder
Jackson County, Colorado
Colorado Mullen Fire Late Afternoon Autumn Flare-up #1
Jackson County, Colorado
Colorado Mullen Fire Late Afternoon Autumn Flare-up #2
Jackson County, Colorado
Art Festival Women
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe Busker
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #6 (x16)
Lawrence, Kansas
Window Shopping the Plague #3: Einstein’s Bike
“Life is like riding a bicycle,” he said
Garnett, Kansas (population 3,262)
Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #7 (x16)
Lawrence, Kansas
Window Shopping the Plague #4: COVID Halloween
Osawatomie, Kansas
Covid-time Coffee To Go
Lawrence, Kansas
Hot Dog Stand on Pearl Street Mall
Boulder, Colorado
Closed: Clinton Store & Gas Station
Clinton, Kansas
Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #8 (x21)
Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
You Will Not Need A Lawyer
Clinton, Kansas (population 531)
COVID-time Lunch Out in the Mountains
Nederland, Colorado (population 1,547)
Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #9 (x16)
North Park, Colorado (altitude 8,099 ft)
Half Mast Flag for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg #1
Ottawa, Kansas
Half Mast Flag for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg #2
(reflected at the courthouse in the window of a fitness center closed by the pandemic)
Ottawa, Kansas
Post Cluttered Parking Meter #1:
A COVID-Time Too-Good-to-Put-Down Book Fly-by
Lawrence, Kansas
Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #10 (x10)
Lawrence, Kansas
A Restaurant Extended Onto Massachusetts Street #2
Lawrence, Kansas
Santa Fe Dog-walk Text-scape
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Delivery Zone
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Window Shopping the Plague #5
Horton, Kansas
Caution:
COVID Cop Letting COVID Busker Know the Rules
Boulder, Colorado
Multi Post Cluttered Library Nap #2: Free Parking
Omaha, Nebraska
COVID Maracas Face Shield Blow-by
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Omaha Area Summer Run DreamScape (x17)
Omaha, Nebraska; Council Bluffs, Iowa
Summer Run
Omaha, Nebraska
Stay Safe KU
Mount Oread, Lawrence, Kansas
✭
Caution:
Reckless Abandon: Why So Many Died
Mount Oread, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas (enrollment 28,447)
The University of Kansas chapter of Phi Gamma Delta hosted streaming & screaming sorority girls on wheels, all partying in close contact with one another in broad daylight at the beginning of fall semester 2020 – – – like there was no COVID danger at all – – – unintimidated doing so only feet from their neighbor, the Chancellor of the the University, Dr. Douglas Girod.
The following day the house was scolded by their neighbor
and everyone in that house and nine other fraternities & sororities were put under strict quarantine lockdown for 14 days.
✭
Letter from Chancellor Douglas A. Girod dated August 26, 2020
Yesterday we shared with you the latest results of our community COVID-19 entry testing. These results included 19,452 tests with a positivity rate of 1.14%. Within that overall population, we noted that our Greek community is testing at a rate of 5.47%.
Today I am writing to inform you that Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has issued 14-day quarantine orders for residents of nine of our sorority and fraternity houses, and is in the process of issuing an order for a tenth house.
The houses that have been issued quarantine orders are Pi Kappa Phi, Phi Gamma Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Phi Kappa Psi, Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Chi Omega, Sigma Nu, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Beta Theta Pi.
Stay Safe KU #2: September 12, 2020
An Empty Stadium During the First Football Game of the Season
Mount Oread, Lawrence, Kansas
Window Shopping the Plague #5b: Your Husband Called…
Osowatamie, Kansas
Post Cluttered COVID Mask Time Out
Holton, Kansas
Pedestrian Hand Sanitizer Station on Pearl Street
Boulder, Colorado
Kansas Corona Mask Breeze-by at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
Lawrence, Kansas
Sanitized COVID Moose Mask x14
Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Window Shopping the Plague #6
Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
Smoking COVID Flagman Masks Required DreamScape x17
Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Post Cluttered Pink Omaha WheelScape
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha Covid-time Post Cluttered DreamScape (x16)
Omaha, Nebraska
Waiting For COVID-time Food Order
Nederland, Colorado
Closed
The Plaza Theatre in Ottawa: The Oldest Operating Cinema in America
Ottawa, Kansas
Post Cluttered Parking Meter #18
Looking Over His Shoulder: What’s Next?
Lawrence, Kansas
Reaching Out For Something Better on Election Day 2020 DreamScape x16
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Caution:
Caution:
October 2020: Waiting For the Light to Change
Boulder, Colorado (population 107,353)
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere!: Empty COVID Election Day GoRound Grid x16
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2020 Presidential Election Line #1
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2020 Presidential Election Line #2
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2020 Presidential Election Line #3
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Caution:
COVID Rider Riding the Grid: It’s All So Much Bigger Than Any One of Us:
The Virus is killing thousands every day, the politicians fight like we have no
problems to fix, the dictator president is threatening to rule for life
and today is election day – – – frightening!
2020 Presidential Election Voter Line #4:
I’m not letting you take me anywhere until I vote!
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The man in the middle of this photograph was waiting in line to vote on November 3, 2020, still about 200 yards away
from his ballot, when he began to feel faint and had to sit down. Somebody else in line called emergency and they sent
an ambulance and several fire trucks and began administering aid. As I was leaving the scene I heard the man say,
I’m not letting you take me anywhere until I vote!
Biden President 2020: Dump Trump
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Sweeping Away Disaster at 1600 Oklahoma City on Election Day 2020
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Caution:
OKC/ Colorado Election Day COVID Sign Quilt x17
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma & Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Common Sense T-shirt: Window Shopping the Plague #7
Lawrence, Kansas
Election Day 2020 Grid Bigger Than Any One of Us DreamScape x16
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Big Milk Bottle for Big Medicine: Waiting for the Vaccine
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Window Shopping the Plague Quilt (x13)
Omaha, Nebraska
Bourgeois Curbside Cocktail Pickup
Lawrence, Kansas
Halloween Ice Storm COVID Cleanup
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Caution:
A 2020 Takeout Dinner
Omaha, Nebraska
Masked Mom Passing Outdoor COVID Dining on Miner Street
Idaho Springs, Colorado
WELCOME NON COVID FRIENDS
Jackson County, Near Gould, Colorado
(population ~25o summer and “about four or five in winter”
Window Shopping the Plague Quilt #2 (x13)
Horton, Kansas; Douglas County, Kansas
COVID-safe Mailman Making His Rounds
Ottawa, Kansas
Window Shopping the Plague Quilt #3 (x52)
Holton, Kansas; Auburn, Nebraska; Omaha, Nebraska; Douglas County, Kansas
Closed: Lucille’s Cafe
Ottawa, Kansas
Window Shopping the Plague Quilt #4 (x13)
Omaha, Nebraska; Douglas County, Kansas
Caution:
Corona Pass Access Point
Continental Divide
at the Junction of Boulder, Gilpin & Grand Counties, Colorado
COVID Street Sweep Cleaning Crew
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
American Interstate
Mack Truck #222 at Kanwaka Fire Station #2
Stull, Kansas (population approximately 25)
COVID Encounter at the Post Office
Walden (North Park) Colorado
Caution:
Covid-aware Face Mask DreamScape #1 (x17)
Holton, Kansas; Omaha, Nebraska
Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #11
Eudora, Kansas (population 6,384)
Post Cluttered Parking Meter #27
Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
Caution!
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Colorado Rocky Mountains
Spraying For Weeds at the Johnny Be Good Big 45 Record
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha Area Summer Run DreamScape #2 (x16)
Omaha, Nebraska; Council Bluffs, Iowa
Window Shopping the Plague #99a:
Weaver’s Department Store
Lawrence, Kansas
Window Shopping the Plague #99b:
Weaver’s Department Store
Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
Covid-aware Kitchen Worker in Lawrence Alley (x12)
Lawrence, Kansas
Santa Fe Phone Photographer with Post Clutter Blow-by
Santa Fe, New Mexico
COVID-time Helping Hand Getting Up
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Rearview Rocky Mountain Air Dog
Walden (North Park) Colorado
Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #12
Ottawa, Kansas
Abandoned Playgrounds During the Lockdown of 2020 #13
Ottawa, Kansas
Colorado COVID Mask Sign DreamScape With Cop & Mona Lisa x13
Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Caution:
NOTICE: Leaf Sweep at Closed Down Music Hall
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Post Cluttered Covid-time Klusterfux (x16)
Omaha, Nebraska
Post-Clutter COVID Dining on Pearl
Boulder, Colorado
Pushing a Post Cluttered Carriage
Omaha, Nebraska
Coronavirus Coping Message: Lawrence F_ _ king Kansas (LFK) Pride
Lawrence, Kansas
With Dancing Hula Hoop Girl:
During the Weekly 2130 Kentucky Street Lockdown-coping Social-distance Porch Jams
featuring the Last Shreds of Decency
(Quilt#1 x15)
Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
An Accordion Busker at Ninth & Mass
Lawrence, Kansas
With Dancing Hula Hoop Girl and Dancing Dinosaur:
During the Weekly 2130 Kentucky Street Lockdown-coping Social-distance Porch Jams
featuring the Last Shreds of Decency
(Quilt#2 x17)
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence Alley Still Life #3
Lawrence, Kansas
Massachusetts Street Man Doing Yoga in the Wild
Lawrence, Kansas
Santa Fe COVID-time Walk Past Police Bikes at Indian Market
Santa Fe, New Mexico
COVID Earth Busker at the Virus Dining Extension of Pearl Street
Boulder, Colorado
A Lawrence street poet raving en plein air at the corner of
Ninth & Massachusetts Streets on his Smith-Corona Typewriter
Covid-aware Face Mask DreamScape #2 (x16)
Lawrence, Kansas; Holton, Kansas; Omaha, Nebraska
Caution:
“All Customers Must Use Facial Covering“
Lawrence, Kansas
Parking Meter #21: Post Cluttered Rick the Guitar Busker on Mass Street
Lawrence, Kansas
Parking Meter #32: Unenviable Homeless & Toy Store Window Bear During Lockdown
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence Homeless Without a Safe Place to Lock Down (x16)
Lawrence, Kansas
Post Cluttered Parking Meter #18: Coffee Carryout Man
Lawrence, Kansas
COVID Dining Extension of Pearl Street Erected Every Morning
Boulder, Colorado
Third Planet Post Cluttered Umbrella Strut
Lawrence, Kansas
Caution:
Covid-aware Face Mask DreamScape #3 (x17)
Lawrence, Kansas; Holton, Kansas; Omaha, Nebraska
Post Cluttered Parking Meter #1: Eldridge House
Lawrence, Kansas
Bad Luck: Post Cluttered Parking Meter #13 at Fuzzy’s
Lawrence, Kansas
COVID Kiss
Santa Fe, New Mexico
What’s Next?
Off Balanced on Massachusetts Street.
Post Cluttered Parking Meter #18: Looking Over His Shoulder #2… (x8)
Lawrence, Kansas
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Masking Up the Kid on Miner Street: Parenting in the Wild DreamScape x16
Estes Park & Idaho Springs, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.
Colorado Rocky Mountains
Winter Park, Colorado, U.S.A.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Gloved Man Exercising Dogs
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Colorado Rocky Mountain Ranch
Kansas Interstate Grain Silo
Colorado Rocky Mountain Natural Disaster Roadway x18
(Forrest Fires & COVID)
Colorado Rocky Mountain Switchback Drive
Caution: Colorado Rocky Mountains
Colorado Rocky Mountains: American Interstate
Colorado Rocky Mountains
American Interstate
COVID Nightmare #2021
(photo doodle x26 images)
Rocky Mountains, Colorado
American Interstate
