Untitled (roadside shadows) 1979

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (roadside shadows)" by Lawrence McFarland, captures a seemingly mundane roadside scene in stark black and white. It feels very American to me, like a still from a road movie. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This image highlights the social landscape often overlooked. The roadside becomes a stage where infrastructure meets nature, reflecting the dominance of transportation in shaping our environment. Do you notice any recurring motifs? Editor: The telephone pole and the shadows, definitely. They seem to cut across the scene. Curator: Precisely. These elements are not merely aesthetic; they speak to connectivity and impermanence, key themes in understanding the socio-political impact of development on rural communities. Editor: I see how a seemingly simple photograph can reveal so much about our relationship with the land.