Grain Elevators, Duluth, Minnesota 1973

Curator: Let's discuss this striking black and white photograph entitled "Grain Elevators, Duluth, Minnesota," attributed to William Carter. Editor: The sheer scale and stark geometry are captivating. It feels like an industrial fortress dominating the landscape. What’s the story here? Curator: Well, these grain elevators symbolize the agricultural industry and the working class. Duluth was a major port; these structures are monuments to labor. We could discuss how race and class intersect with the agriculture that fuels our economies. Editor: Absolutely. And consider the materials – concrete and steel, built to store and transport vast quantities of grain. The means of production are right there, shaping both the landscape and the livelihoods of workers. I wonder about the labour conditions of people who built and worked here. Curator: Precisely. It really underscores the power dynamics inherent in food distribution. Editor: Indeed. Looking at this image has made me rethink the industrial aesthetic through a social justice lens. Curator: And for me, it's reinforced the importance of historical and theoretical context when interpreting seemingly simple landscapes.