Long Island Landscape (seaside route with power lines) 1979

Editor: Here we have Lawrence McFarland's black and white photograph, "Long Island Landscape (seaside route with power lines)." It feels desolate, almost post-apocalyptic, with those stark power lines cutting across the sky. What’s your take on this? Curator: I see a commentary on the intersection of nature and technology, highlighting the often-overlooked infrastructures that shape our experience of the landscape. How does the inclusion of power lines influence your perception of "desolation?" Editor: I guess it's because they feel intrusive, like a reminder of human impact on a place that should be wild. Curator: Exactly. McFarland invites us to consider how these structures, often symbols of progress and connectivity, can also represent a form of environmental intrusion, impacting marginalized communities disproportionately. Does this change how you view the image? Editor: It does. I'm thinking about whose progress these lines represent and who bears the cost. Thanks, I hadn't considered that before. Curator: My pleasure. It is important to consider intersectional perspectives when viewing art.