Untitled (Bingham Copper Mine, Utah) 2003

This photograph of the Bingham Copper Mine in Utah, was taken by Victoria Sambunaris. What a view. Looking at these striated layers and the earth tones, I think about all the ways to cut into something. This terrain is like a huge painting with subtle color gradations, but it’s a mine! What must Victoria have been thinking when she released the shutter? I imagine her contemplating how to capture the immensity of the landscape, the harshness of industry, and the hidden narratives within the earth. Her lines remind me of Vija Celmins' drawings, in the way they replicate reality and create pattern. Though different in tone, both artists make me think about scale and perspective and how one thing relates to another. It’s as if Victoria held a mirror up to the world, capturing both its beauty and its scars.