{"product_id":"urban-decay-by-laura-russell-pod-version","title":"Urban Decay by Laura Russell (POD Version)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eIn my hometown of Saginaw, Michigan, decades of poverty and the decline of the automotive business are creating an urban blight that is heartbreaking. Lost factory jobs lead to lost homes as families struggle to survive. These homes become bank property then gang territory, then arson targets before finally succumbing to city bulldozers.In this artist book, photographs of burned out, boarded-up, homes—once proud family homes—are paired with Laura’s original poetry about a once-vibrant neighborhood and the decay of the American dream. Urban Decay presents 30 photographs, all taken on one cold morning, in one small neighborhood—an area about seven blocks by three blocks. Two poems, introductory text and a map of the burned out houses accompany the photographs. Plywood covers on the post-and-screw binding reference the plywood-covered windows of these forlorn homes. Stained Tyvek flyleaves, flame-burned page fore edges, and branded cover title.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eSecond Edition: The deluxe edition of this book (shown in photos with wood cover) is sold out. This version is a self-published Print on Demand (POD) paperback edition.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne of the poems featured in Urban Decay\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eThere, on the porch of the pink one,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ethe sun shines through the stained glass,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ered like a ruby.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eThere, on the porch of the brown one, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ea baseball left behind as they\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003erush into night, mascara-smeared faces\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003edripping like soft fruit in a juicer.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eNo more crayons, no more trains,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eno more baby cribs. It’s all gone.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eGone. The soul of these houses \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eas they burn, smoke pouring from \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ethe windows and doors.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eGone. Soon. The doors and windows\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eand pipes and siding, all stripped,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eall sold. Gone.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eHow much more can we stand?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eHow much longer can these empty shells stand?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eHow can you stand to just drive by \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ewhen the future of your factory town is gone.\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"23 Sandy","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67218532106413,"sku":"wdv1791957209982","price":22.12,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0769\/5804\/0237\/files\/urban-decay-by-laura-russell-pod-version_1.jpg?v=1791957216","url":"https:\/\/mindfulwardrobe.shop\/products\/urban-decay-by-laura-russell-pod-version","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}