Collection of Amy and Tony D'Orazio. © David Maisel.
Nearly two centuries of American photographs bear witness to the people and places that power our lives. Since their inception, photographs have documented mining, drilling, and fracking—industries that often happen underground or out of sight. They reveal how we extract resources from the earth and the impact on people and our planet. Beneath the Surface explores how photographers in the United States have depicted resource extraction for 185 years. The exhibition's 150 photographs highlight the variety of approaches and motivations behind their creation, including works by contemporary artists. An artwork from David Maisel's series American Mine will be on display in the exhibition. With American Mine (2007-present), Maisel focused specifically on mines situated along the Carlin Trend in northeastern Nevada, the most prolific gold mining district in the Western Hemisphere.
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