State Road up Hurricane Fault, Utah c. 1870

Curator: Here we have a black and white photograph titled "State Road up Hurricane Fault, Utah" by John K. Hillers. Editor: The harshness of the landscape contrasted with that winding road really grabs you, doesn’t it? It's a testament to human intervention, a scar carved into the earth. Curator: Hillers worked extensively for the U.S. Geological Survey, documenting the American West, and this image reflects that mission. The road symbolizes westward expansion, the manipulation of land for access. Editor: Exactly! And look at the raw materiality of it all—the dirt, the rocks, the sheer labor required to build that road. It's about transforming the landscape for resource extraction and settlement. Curator: It also speaks to the romanticism of the West, framing progress as an inevitable and positive force, despite its environmental impact. Editor: True, but let’s not forget the indigenous populations displaced by that so-called progress. The materials of this road are loaded with a complex history. Curator: Indeed, and I think Hillers' photograph invites us to consider these complex narratives. Editor: Absolutely, it makes you consider what we’ve gained, and what we’ve lost.