[null, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015debbd1a24417ac36a/1522438844210/jordan_rathus6+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015debbd1a24417ac36a/1522438844210/jordan_rathus6+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus6 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd5/1522438844203/jordan_rathus2+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd5/1522438844203/jordan_rathus2+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus2 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015ae4fcb5a3a0995311/1522438844206/jordan_rathus3+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015ae4fcb5a3a0995311/1522438844206/jordan_rathus3+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus3 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016646c3c4bfdd9a3037/1522438844216/jordan_rathus10+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016646c3c4bfdd9a3037/1522438844216/jordan_rathus10+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus10 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016aebbd1a24417ac459/1522438844227/jordan_rathus17+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016aebbd1a24417ac459/1522438844227/jordan_rathus17+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus17 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016946c3c4bfdd9a3086/1522438844223/jordan_rathus15+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016946c3c4bfdd9a3086/1522438844223/jordan_rathus15+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus15 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016a46c3c4bfdd9a308b/1522438844225/jordan_rathus16+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016a46c3c4bfdd9a308b/1522438844225/jordan_rathus16+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus16 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016846c3c4bfdd9a3043/1522438844218/jordan_rathus13+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016846c3c4bfdd9a3043/1522438844218/jordan_rathus13+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus13 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016846c3c4bfdd9a3083/1522438844221/jordan_rathus14+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016846c3c4bfdd9a3083/1522438844221/jordan_rathus14+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus14 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016446c3c4bfdd9a3031/1522438844214/jordan_rathus9+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016446c3c4bfdd9a3031/1522438844214/jordan_rathus9+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus9 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016246c3c4bfdd9a2fea/1522438844212/jordan_rathus8+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016246c3c4bfdd9a2fea/1522438844212/jordan_rathus8+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus8 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016aebbd1a24417ac45d/1522438844233/jordan_rathus18b+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016aebbd1a24417ac45d/1522438844233/jordan_rathus18b+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus b copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus18b copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015debbd1a24417ac36a/1522438844210/jordan_rathus6+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015debbd1a24417ac36a/1522438844210/jordan_rathus6+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus6 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd5/1522438844203/jordan_rathus2+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd5/1522438844203/jordan_rathus2+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus2 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015ae4fcb5a3a0995311/1522438844206/jordan_rathus3+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4015ae4fcb5a3a0995311/1522438844206/jordan_rathus3+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus3 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016646c3c4bfdd9a3037/1522438844216/jordan_rathus10+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016646c3c4bfdd9a3037/1522438844216/jordan_rathus10+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus10 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016aebbd1a24417ac459/1522438844227/jordan_rathus17+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016aebbd1a24417ac459/1522438844227/jordan_rathus17+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus17 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016946c3c4bfdd9a3086/1522438844223/jordan_rathus15+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016946c3c4bfdd9a3086/1522438844223/jordan_rathus15+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus15 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016a46c3c4bfdd9a308b/1522438844225/jordan_rathus16+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016a46c3c4bfdd9a308b/1522438844225/jordan_rathus16+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus16 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016846c3c4bfdd9a3043/1522438844218/jordan_rathus13+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016846c3c4bfdd9a3043/1522438844218/jordan_rathus13+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus13 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016846c3c4bfdd9a3083/1522438844221/jordan_rathus14+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016846c3c4bfdd9a3083/1522438844221/jordan_rathus14+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus14 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016446c3c4bfdd9a3031/1522438844214/jordan_rathus9+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016446c3c4bfdd9a3031/1522438844214/jordan_rathus9+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus9 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016246c3c4bfdd9a2fea/1522438844212/jordan_rathus8+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016246c3c4bfdd9a2fea/1522438844212/jordan_rathus8+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus  copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus8 copy.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://www.jordanrathus.com/thats-why-im-here-take-2-1", "unformatted_src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016aebbd1a24417ac45d/1522438844233/jordan_rathus18b+copy.jpg", "src": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568aabe2c21b8690d5c6060f/58e4015a15d5db3555787cd3/58e4016aebbd1a24417ac45d/1522438844233/jordan_rathus18b+copy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jordan rathus b copy", "alt_text": "jordan_rathus18b copy.jpg"}]
Prosjektrom Normanns, March, 2017

That’s Why I’m Here chronicles a multi-coastal search for an alternative way of life, from the perspective of a character conceived and played by Rathus.

With a mélange of influences from many time periods and cultures, the narrative meanders through an assortment of fictional and nonfictional stories, including the cultural histories of Norway, Iceland, and the Hudson Valley. Morals taken from the Hávamál (a collection of Old Norse poems from the Viking Age attributed to the god Odin) are mixed with fragments of Hudson Valley fables, such as “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving, to create inspiration for a wandering soul as her sense of self, time, fiction and the real begin to blend. The project is a collaboration between Site95/curator Meaghan Kent, Torrance Shipman gallery (NY) and Prosjektrom Normanns.

Photos: Jan Inge Haga