Palm Shadows â€?Phoenix, Arizona 1974

Editor: This is Dennis Feldman's "Palm Shadows—Phoenix, Arizona." I'm struck by the contrast between the harsh sunlight and deep shadows. What can you tell me about the materials and context surrounding this photograph? Curator: Consider the materiality of photography itself. How does the process of capturing light and shadow, the labor involved in developing the print, reflect the socio-economic realities of Phoenix? Editor: So, you're saying the photograph isn't just *of* Phoenix, but embodies something about it? Curator: Precisely. Think about the resources needed to build and maintain the motel, the labor involved. This image is a document of the systems that enable its existence. Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered. It makes me think about the economic forces at play. Curator: Indeed.