Flying A - Kingman, AZ Possibly 1962 - 1989

Editor: This is Edward Ruscha's "Flying A - Kingman, AZ." It’s a black and white photograph. I’m struck by the desolation in this image, it feels like a forgotten America. What do you see here? Curator: The "Flying A" becomes a symbol of American transit, but also of its exploitation. Considering the socio-political context, who truly benefits from these landscapes, and who is left behind in the process? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn't considered. The gas station as a site of labor and inequality... Curator: Precisely! It prompts us to think about the narratives of power embedded within seemingly mundane scenes. What futures are made possible and impossible in this landscape? Editor: I'm leaving with a lot more to consider than just the image itself. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!