Interstate 70, near Salina, Kansas 2014

Editor: So, this is Joshua Dudley Greer's photograph, *Interstate 70, near Salina, Kansas*. I find the directness of the billboard jarring against the serene landscape. What strikes you about its social commentary? Curator: This work exemplifies the intersection of personal desperation and public space. The stark plea on the billboard—"I NEED A KIDNEY"—becomes a commentary on healthcare accessibility in America and the commercialization of our visual environment. Editor: Commercialization... So, the landscape almost becomes an unwilling participant in this medical narrative? Curator: Precisely. The very space typically used for advertising is repurposed for a deeply personal appeal, highlighting the unequal distribution of resources and the lengths people must go to navigate them. It uses the visual language of advertising to subvert its original purpose. Editor: I never thought about it that way, but it brings a whole new layer of meaning to the photograph. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, understanding the socio-political context helps us read the image beyond its surface.