Displaying in the Maxwell Gallery.

Growing up in the mountains of West Virginia, I learned early that every road has a story. The winding backroads, historic downtowns, quiet rivers, and rolling ridgelines of my home state shaped the way I see the world and inspired a lifelong passion for photography.

Mountain Roots, Open Roads is a collection of images that reflects both where I come from and where my travels have taken me. The exhibition features photographs from Elkins and the surrounding Appalachian region, alongside scenes captured across West Virginia and throughout the American landscape. From the rugged beauty of the Badlands and the towering presence of Devils Tower to the historic significance of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Mount Rushmore, each image represents a moment of discovery and connection.

Whether photographed in the mountains of West Virginia or on the open plains of the American West, each image is connected by a desire to capture the character, history, and natural beauty that make a place unique.

This exhibition is both a celebration of home and an invitation to explore. It reflects the idea that our roots ground us, while the open road encourages us to seek new perspectives. Through these photographs, I hope viewers are reminded of the beauty that exists both in the places we know well and, in the destinations, still waiting to be discovered.

— Phillips B. Kolsun.