River Clean-up, Swannanoa River, Asheville, North Carolina 2007

Curator: This is Jeff Rich’s photograph, "River Clean-up, Swannanoa River, Asheville, North Carolina," part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. The image, roughly 16 by 20 inches, depicts volunteers cleaning up a riverbank. Editor: My first thought is the contrast between the natural and the artificial. The bright orange bags really pop against the muted greens and browns of the landscape. Curator: The orange perhaps acting as a warning, a marker of human intervention, both positive and negative, within this natural space. Editor: Absolutely. The image prompts us to consider the politics inherent in environmental action. Who is responsible for this mess, and who is cleaning it up? Also, a gun show sign is visible, which is an odd juxtaposition. Curator: It becomes a powerful symbol of conflict: between our impact on nature and our attempts to reconcile. Editor: I think the artist is showing us that the work of conservation can itself be a battleground. Curator: This photograph really emphasizes the responsibility we all share in our environment.