By the Atlantic Ocean, you can see the other side of the power plant in Beverly, Massachusetts. From the mist coming in from the ocean, the pale yellow tone of the lights, paints a mirage by the road.
I started photographing in January of 2005 to may 2006, in the area of Boston, Salem, Beverly and Marblehead. I discovered learning and researching from the environmental agencies and groups like the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency ), Health Link and Masspirg that the Salem Power plant had been a major factor in pollution to the environment specifically in water contamination,toxicants in the air and in the earth. These factors contribute consequently to the public’s health in general as a whole and in these areas particularly in Salem, Beverly, and Marblehead. The Salem power plant is a vital part, as a source of energy for the city of Salem and it’s surrounding areas. I became more of an environmental advocate as I read the statistics and the reports from health and environmental groups such as Harvard public Health that during the past decade until 2001, the power plant affected the public’s health in a considerable way. Positive steps have been made since 2001 in clean up, reducing hazardous toxicants, and introducing alternate programs such as Modern Wind mills for alternate source of energy. I have joined health link and Masspirg to contribute, help and do more research in the future and document these areas through my creative process. From my documentation of the city escapes and natural landscapes, I have noticed that they are both in constant change and progression, as well as a contrast to one another. They seem to have their own existence and we are adapted to and are in need of certain vital resources to survive. For example the basic organic elements and natural resources we use like earth, stone,water, timber, to live and develop. Presently, we are in more serious move to create an environmentally safe planet for our future and can we create a place where both landscapes can survive and co-exist? This project is marked by the start of the discussion in regards to the coexistence of our landscapes, in industrial development, and the city landscapes, versus our natural landscape.
At the Toxic Beach you can see the Horizon lights of the city in Beverly Massachusetts by the Beverly Harbor Bay.
At the ” Toxic Beach “, as it is refered to, a tree stump stands desolate and lifeless. A clear result of the harmful emitted pollution from the near by Salem power plant operation.
The Salem Power Plant in Beverly Massachusetts reflects it’s illuminating lights at night onto the still waters of Beverly Harbor Bay. A solitary tree stands in silhouette against the grand structure.
A stark outline of one of the few Windmills in Hull Massachusetts, stands isolated but powerful against a petroleum blue midnight sky.
This used to be an active industrial rail stations carring cargo throughout the 60’s and 70’s, now abandoned and left as a symbol of the past and once a booming city of Beverly, Massachusetts.
Under the Fenway Bridge, in Boston Massachusetts, evidence of an abandoned desolate area reflects the scenery of some of the sites in the urban city neighborhoods.
Between Kenmore Square and Fenway, a walkway that leads to the metropolitian area. The juxtaposition is visible from the ground, to the trees and the way to the city.
By Downtown Boston, you can see the drydock ship yard, the city lights shine from a bridge where everything connects.
A mountainous view, near a construction site in Boston, Massachusetts, looks like a familiar view of a natural landscape but rather will be part of a man-made escape in the future.
A small power plant in Boston, stands in reflection of a pool of polluted water generating power and electricity for the area on Massachusetts avenue.
In the middle of the fast-paced city in Boston at Kenmore square, and in the midst of progression and devleopment, our complex ways of accumulation, resources and necessities, is evident, in our cities and towns. These aspects are what makes our cities alive each day.
