William Mark Sommer - Dusted
In my hometown, the enduring influence of mining on the land is ever-present, from initial growth and subsequent collapse to modern invention and recent developments. Growing up in the shadow of Sutter's Mill and the legacy of the California Gold Rush, I observed how the region’s culture was profoundly shaped by mining and its aftermath. As I developed a deeper understanding of mining's influence on my home, I became charged with addressing this complex history, the discarded people and places, while exploring these ongoing developments and the continued expansion of mining companies across the Western landscape. Over seven years of document mining’s impact on both land and people, my goal has been to illuminate the true consequences of mining and the ongoing harm rooted in our history. Through Dusted, I seek to challenge historical accounts and reveal what remains after companies’ false promises are exposed, as these companies seize land, exhaust resources, close operations, and depart, they leave behind abandoned communities and a damaged landscape that never recovers. I strive to share these stories embedded in the land, emphasizing the enduring negative effects of mining on nature and our communities.
