Holt Webb's "Vanishing America"

Barbara Ann Levy introduces us to the work of photographer Holt Webb with this striking online exhibit at her BAL Gallery (click here to view):

BAL Gallery's exhibit of photography from Holt Webb's series Vanishing America has been launched to honor Gulf of Mexico residents who suffered enormous losses related to the Horizon oil rig explosion in April 2010, the spill and its aftermath; chronic illness, MRSA-like rashes, upper respiratory illness and unemployment due to the death of oyster beds and pollution of shrimping waters.

The recent report of the National Commission on the BP Oil Disaster scapegoated CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, accusing him of encouraging residents' outrage. But even without Cooper's reports, Gulf Coast residents have plenty to be angry about!

I can assure readers that residents are outraged by the tragic effects of the oil rig explosion. It has been called the most serious environmental disaster in US history. Eleven oil rig workers, female dolphins with calves in seasonal calving grounds, pelicans and countless seabirds died.

In January 2011, barrier reef beaches like Blood Beach and coastal communities in Mississippi seem toxic to residents. They report that once pristine white beaches are now muddied composites of sand and buried layers of oil. They report continued difficulty breathing near shorelines in Mississippi coastal areas. A toxic dispersant was used by BP even in the face of orders not to use it by our Coast Guard.

Please support Holt Webb's artwork from his Vanishing America series. Visit his website. His work is available for sale and also for exhibition. You may e-mail me at barbaraannlevy1@mac.com for more information about how to purchase or exhibit the work.