Gas Line, Glen Cove Road 1979

Editor: This is Elaine Mayes's "Gas Line, Glen Cove Road". It looks like a documentary photograph of cars lining up for gas. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The cars, as objects of mass production and consumption, become central here. The photograph documents a specific moment – likely during an energy crisis – highlighting our reliance on fossil fuels. Consider the labor involved in extracting, refining, and distributing that gas. Editor: So, you’re saying the photo isn’t just about a gas line, but about the whole system behind it? Curator: Exactly. It's about making visible the often-invisible processes of supply and demand, and our entanglement within them. The materiality of the cars and the gas itself tell a story of dependence. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about, especially the labor element. Curator: Indeed. It’s about power, access, and the material conditions of everyday life.