‘Valley of Shadows and Dreams’ on tap to April 20

Quinn Wilson
In Motion Staff Writer

“Valley of Shadows and Dreams,” a photography exhibit at the Southeast Museum of Photography, is a project by Ken and Melanie Light.

Running through April 20, the exhibit focuses on documenting California’s central farmlands, which produce 50 percent of America’s fruits and vegetables, and are an integral part of food production in the United States.

“If you look behind the fantasy of the California dream, so carefully crafted, you will see there are shadows too. The Great Central Valley has provided the dream for man, but it is deeply shadowed. We hope that this record of the land and its people will plainly show what the lack of visionary thinking on the part of our politicians and leaders has wrought,” Melanie Light writes in her artist’s statement.

The project lasted five years, covering one of the largest undocumented immigration marches is Fresno history, including mass foreclosures and more.

“The struggle to maintain the balance between freedom and regulation occurs constantly and every generation must learn anew the linchpins of that struggle and set the machine back to work for the best interests of the country as a whole,” Light continues.

Putting a face to the squalor and uncertainty farm workers face even in rich agricultural areas, the Lights bring to life a problem which people have ignored for so long.

“Our sincerest wish is that this project will inspire everyone to look, see, and act – so much is at stake,” Ken and Melanie said.