Untitled (Atomic Bomb Test Crater Possibly 1950 - 1960

This anonymous photograph in Minneapolis shows the muted aftermath of creation, or rather, destruction. Looking at the off-kilter rectangle carved into the earth, my eyes dance on the surface, trying to make sense of the shadows. I imagine the photographer, anonymous, poised between documentation and contemplation. What were they thinking? Did they ponder the implications of what they were witnessing or were they simply there to observe? Were they fascinated by the textures and the way the light fell? It’s like those 60s and 70s earthworks by artists like Robert Smithson, Walter de Maria, or Nancy Holt. The light, a key player, sculpts the edges of the crater. I can see how the earth has been turned inside out, how the surface is so dry. It is a stark reminder of our impact on the planet, but also a testament to the enduring power of image-making in an ongoing conversation across time.