shannon covington
“Then and There, Here and Now”
by Shannon Covington
Oak Grove reminded me of the past, not just there at the powerhouse, but also of my own past. My father worked for the power utility company in California – beginning as a meter reader, then a lineman, and finally an operator. Upon entering Oak Grove's control room (as well as the control rooms of Bull Run and River Mill powerhouses) I thought back on my childhood visits to my Dad's “office” and seeing panel after panel of knobs, switches, dials, glowing lights, and meters –always with the warning to DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING!!
Though familiar, these hydroelectric powerhouses here in Oregon have an amazing historical element to them, taking visitors back to another time. A time when the form of a powerhouse was about more than just its function. Oak Grove in particular is so well maintained – the gleam of the metal, the spotless glass displays, the highly polished floors – it's as if it was newly built. It is an operational history museum – and a delight to photograph.
Medium: Photography
Dimensions: 20” x 30” framed
Price: $150
Website: shannoncovington.com
Email: scovingtonphoto@gmail.com
Please contact the artist directly for information about purchasing this piece.
Click on picture to enlarge.
