Text by Kenneth Dickerman and photographs by Jordan Gale.

Photographer Jordan Gale was born into a tumultuous life. And he has been examining that through an ongoing series he has titled “Don’t Be This Way Forever.” A few months ago, he reached out to me with his project, and it grabbed my attention so much that I wanted to share it here with all of you.

Gale sent me the following description of his ongoing project:

“For most of my life, the concept of home has been a notion I’ve struggled with. I’ve spent many years trying to put as much distance as possible between myself and the distressing familiarities of home.”

“I grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a relatively small town in Middle America. I grew up an only child in a single-parent home where, more often than not, we struggled to get by. Like many households in my community, money and substance abuse issues were ongoing struggles.

Grandma sewing at the dinner table. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 2015. Photo by Jordan Gale

Mom and the bathroom mirror. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 2017. Photo by Jordan Gale

Self-portrait at Grandma’s. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 2022. Photo by Jordan Gale

Read the entire story in The Washington Post.

Jordan Gale is a photographer based in Portland, Oregon. His photographs examine human relationships, community and American politics.