WAIM #029 - Jack Gruber of USA Today and Boyd's Station Gallery

Jack Gruber has been around the world and back more than once. In his 35 years as a photo-journalist, Jack has been embedded with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and other far flung spots around the globe. He’s followed teams on their journey to a Stanley Cup, and covered the tragedy of an ensuing celebration gone horribly wrong. He has spent the last twenty years at the USA Today, largely covering hard news and politics.From the court to the courtroom, Jack Gruber has been on the front lines of American history and culture for the better part of the last four decades. Now, he is sharing what he has learned and experienced in that time with young people through a remarkable internship program. The Boyd’s Station Image Archive and the Boyd’s Station Gallery in Cynthiana, Kentucky are designed solely to archive the lives and celebrate the creativity of Harrison County, Kentucky. Jack and his team sought to build a place where young people from around the country could come to learn on the job photo-journalism while helping to document the life of one rural American county.What Am I Making is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.This project has led to a gallery space where work from the students in the program as well members of the local arts guild, and nearby students can show and sell their work. Jack sees it as a self-sustaining operation that he hopes can grow and subsist organically.I first met Jack when he was recommended to me as a stop on my solo tour. Jack, his mother Myrtle, and the entire town of Cynthiana welcomed me with open arms. It’s hard not to fall in love with a town and with people like this. These are good folks trying to carve out and create something unique in the sort of place that usually doesn't have the forward momentum to keep it going for long. In Cynthiana, it’s thriving, and the rest of the town is building on the momentum. It was a pleasure to catch up with a guy who gets things done, makes things happen, has seen almost all of it, and always makes you feel better for talking to him. Here he is, photojournalist and my friend, Jack Gruber. The sort of guy who genuinely makes the world a better place to be. Enjoy,Matty C Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe