Robin Perry Dana ‘97

From the series: Excavations

The Excavations series encapsulates a three-year visual study of the kaolin pit mines of Central Georgia. These mines dot the geological boundary known as the fall line, which now separates the higher Piedmont from the Coastal Plain. The fall line marks the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean during the Mesozoic period.

A native of the area, I am well aware of the deep social impact of the local mining industry on the community where economic, cultural and environmental concerns intersect. The photographs pinpoint a juxtaposition of beauty with the frequently negative perceptions of the mining industry. I approach these ephemeral places with trepidation, searching for the fragments of space that are
indicative of the collision between that which is both life giving and destructive. The mines are otherwise utilitarian places made sacred by the significance of a photograph.

These visual studies of the landscape emphasize the mines’ breathtaking mineral colors, fantastic scale, and unearthly detail. Reminiscent of 19th-century American landscape painting these works express my awe and wonder of the glorious expanse, but also include delightful details and hidden subtleties. Of particular note are moments captured with meticulous care like the glow of a
sunrise and the first drops of a rain shower. I present my familiar environment to an unfamiliar audience, offering a landscape that few have conceived.

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2006
Color print
40” x 50”