Who Controls The Present Controls The Past

"Who Controls the Present Controls the Past" represents a screen memory of Rocky Flats. The Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant, just northwest of Arvada, produced a staggering 70 thousand atomic bombs, each serving as a “trigger” for thermonuclear warheads. Concealed by government secrecy, the plant's fires, leaks, and illicit dumping of nuclear waste contaminated the Denver Metro Area with long-lived radioactive toxins. A major and highly visible plutonium fire sparked a decade of mass protests, culminating in an unprecedented FBI raid that ultimately shuttered the plant.  

After a multi-billion-dollar cap-and-cover effort, the Rocky Flats site was transitioned into a national wildlife refuge. However, the refuge was not remediated and "The Most Dangerous Buildings in America" lie under six feet of soil at the heart of the refuge. While state and federal officials claim the area is safe, many community members and experts strongly disagree.  

This piece, a collage created using U.S. Department of Energy photographs of Rocky Flats, explores the shifting lens through which we view the world. It underscores how those who control the narrative hold the power to shape collective perceptions of history and influence decisions that determine our future.