Tower, Hancock, West Virginia 1991

James Welling made this gelatin silver print, "Tower, Hancock, West Virginia," to capture the cultural landscape of America. His photographs are marked by their engagement with architecture and the vernacular environment. Welling’s choice of subject matter invites reflection on the nation’s industrial past, particularly in regions like West Virginia, a place that has seen its labor force marginalized by economic shifts and globalization. The architectural structure of the tower, juxtaposed with the surrounding landscape, speaks to both the functional necessity and the aesthetic presence of industrial infrastructure. The tower, weathered and worn, stands as a quiet witness to the passage of time and the changing fortunes of the region. In this work, Welling seems to ask us to consider what has been lost and gained in the relentless march of progress and the emotional impact it has on the people who call these places home.