In The American Vernacular, Ralph juxtaposes images dominated by text, both unexpected and commonplace, often captured miles and years apart. These works further emphasize how semiotics differ by social, cultural, or historical contexts across the United States, yet as Ralph combines found words photographed in urban, suburban, and rural landscapes, they form a singular image where seemingly disparate people, and the American past and present, meet in seminal harmony. By resynthesizing text unbeholden to original meaning, Ralph seeks to form a new set of narrative possibilities, a new language, reshuffling the deck of our past to offer a new story. Humorous at first glance, The American Vernacular asks the viewer to linger, to note that Ralph accentuates his perspective with deepening irony, commenting on the infinite ways the written word has played a role in shaping societal and cultural perspective in today’s culture. As in his previous works in the series, Ralph’s art continues to evoke nostalgia while addressing contemporary themes.