Jewelry. Art. Cupcakes. Magic.
There’s something so romantic about trains. In high school, we would walk along the tracks late at night and talk about hopping trains without ever actually doing it. The hobo dream remained untouched for several years, when I would learn all about the ups and downs of unlimited freedom and open space. I like to return to rail yards when I’m feeling down.
This was the first year that I’ve lived in Laramie during the anniversary of the Matthew Shepard murder. I was curious to see what the town did to commemorate the brutal event–often the one thing that the rest of the country knows about Laramie. The University of Wyoming Theater Department was one of 150 theaters to simultaneously debut “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later” last week. I think that the play did an excellent job of summarizing the range of reactions that have populated not just Laramie, but the country as well. As in life, there are no tidy conclusions.
I was 19 when the murder happened, and living in Ohio. It was sickening then, and it’s sickening now. Laramie had the opportunity to host a panel discussion after the play, which included friends of Matthew, a police officer who worked on the case, and advocates in the community. I learned that the local newspaper propagated the theory, dismantled during the trial, that it was not a hate crime, but a “robbery gone wrong.” And that when scores of people wrote letters to the editor to provide the factual counterpoint, the newspaper declined to print a single one of them. I learned that the bar where the murderers conspired is still in existence, but under a new name and ownership. The interior is the same–I don’t think that I can go in there and enjoy myself, knowing what transpired there. I learned that at the University of Wyoming, same-sex couples have been promised domestic partner benefits–once the budget cuts have passed.
Citizens of Laramie are understandably sensitive about how this town is portrayed. As a newcomer, I can’t remark on the state of community relations. The advisor for Spectrum, the LGBT group on campus, commented that he’s seen a lot of improvement in the past 5 years. The conclusion is the same as in any place: things have improved in recent years, but there’s always work to do.
When people come to visit, there are a handful of things that I like to show them: the art museum, sculptures, Snowy Mountain range, Vedauwoo, and the Wyoming Territorial Prison. The prison was in use in the late 1800′s, and counted Butch Cassidy among its colorful inhabitants. The site includes the restored prison, which highlights the compelling stories about its prisoners, a broom factory where they worked, the warden’s house, and quite a bit more. My favorite areas are the exhibits about the female prisoners, and the working platen press. If you find yourself in Laramie, Wyoming, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Since arriving here, I think that my identity as “the crazy girl with the camera” has been firmly established. One of the greatest things about moving to a new place is seeing it with fresh eyes; I’ve been marveling over little details that I’m quite sure locals don’t give a second thought to. For instance, houses tend to be painted in vivid colors (though 50-60 years ago, this was not the case, a local man informed me). People decorate with large stone slabs, weathered, gnarled hunks of wood, and/or garden ornaments. Business signs often have a retro flair, often harkening back to the 1940s and 50s. I’ve seen quite a few retro cars here as well. Lilacs dot almost every yard, and I’ve been introduced to trees that look almost as though they have been formed from thin sheets of copper. The trees that make me nostalgic for Pittsburgh are the ones that look as though half of them have been charred–it reminds me of the sooty exteriors of older buildings.
Things like perpetual sunshine, the disarming friendliness of strangers, and the wonders of high-altitude baking are all new experiences. So far, I’ve greeted them with an air of optimism and adventure (we’ll see how I feel this winter).
More on the culture of the place soon!
As pleased as I was to learn that Laramie has an art museum, I am even more thrilled to say that my work is going to be presented there! On Monday, June 1st, from 6-8 p.m., I and 19 other area artists will be presenting our work and discussing it a bit. This is an ongoing series hosted by the art museum, and it should be fun. A little reception will be held afterwards at Altitude, if you’re in the area. Some fabulous work is being installed right now.
Someday You'll Change Your Mind