Ariniko D O'Meara

The City Saunter Project: The Photographic & Narrative Quest to Discover the Wholeness of Lansing, Michigan Ariniko D O'Meara

In 2010 Lansing, Michigan was in the midst of growing despair, rocked by the closing of multiple GM sites as well as the collapse of the housing market, many residents of this quaint "little big town" were feeling the effects of one of the worse recessions to hit this region. In an effort to counter some of the misconceptions generated during this timeframe, Ariniko O'Meara took on the task of showcasing the entire Lansing city. She determined that to change the perception of what this city was doing to rise above the recession, and all the people working behind the scenes to make Lansing a great urban city, she decided to walk every single city street, using her writing and skills as a photographer to document her walks. It took her a total of three years, covering 537 miles of walking to reach the goal of walking the entire city. Through her City Saunter project she discovered a city thriving in some aspects and falling short on others, but throughout the entire project she found the true #lovelansing spirit, as well as her own voice in sharing her hometown.