Closing the Barn Door (declassified)
about 20 by 15 inches
2007
Digital Painting/Photo Collage
Based on a b/w photo from the “Hanford Historical Photo Declassification Projectâ€.
copyright J Kearns 2007
Read the introduction to the Remixing the Hanford Declassified Project paintings
On January 17th the minute hand on the “Doomsday Clock” will be moved forward, for which I did this painting in commemoration of the event.
Fire prevention was a great concern at Hanford, and the original photo in the Hanford Declassified archive is from a shoot on fire safety. On the table was an ashtray, suggesting a cigarette butt is the culprit of the waste can fire the woman is hosing down.
The ever-present concern with simple fire safety in the Hanford Declassified archive contrasts bitterly with what was either over-preening confidence in manhandling awe inspiring forces of nature or a terrifying cynicism that would leave to others the resultant problems beyond the immediate future. Whether which one was responsible–and likely both–Hanford, today, is said to be the most toxic site in the western hemisphere.
Description of the declassification project from the Hanford Historical Photo Declassification Project website:
"The Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office (RL) has aggressively implemented the commitments made by the Federal Government to openness in Government which was stated as a ‘Fundamental principle that an informed citizenry is essential to the democratic process and that the more the American people know about their Government, the better they will be governed. Openness in government is essential to accountability . . .’ RL is committed to responsible openness. The Hanford Declassification Project (HDP) was initiated by RL to declassify to the maximum possible extent all previously classified Hanford operations information (documents and photographs). There are over 77,000 declassified photographs of early Hanford (1943 – 1960) available… \These World War II and Cold War era photographs depict early Hanford construction and the employees/families who lived and build/operated the site."
DDRS Record Details for Record Accession Number
“N1D0039992”
Accession Number N1D0039992
Document Number 2538-2-NEG-A
Alternate Document Number 2538-2-NEG
Title Description WOMAN PUTTING OUT FIRE IN TRASH CAN – IN HOME FIRE FIGHTING
Number of Pages 1
Key Word(s)
Author(s)
Company(s)
Document Date 04-Dec-2001
Public Availability Date 14-Feb-2002
Other fire prevention images:
DDRS Record Details for Record Accession Number
“N1D0014470”
Accession Number N1D0014470
Document Number 16003-NEG-B
Alternate Document Number 16003-NEG
Title Description FIRE PREVENTION – HOUSE HAZARDS
Number of Pages 1
Key Word(s)
Author(s)
Company(s)
Document Date 17-Sep-1957
Public Availability Date 14-Feb-2002
DDRS Record Details for Record Accession Number
“N1D0014466”
Accession Number N1D0014466
Document Number 16001-NEG-D
Alternate Document Number 16001-NEG
Title Description WOMEN AND CHILDREN – FIRE PREVENTION FEATURE
Number of Pages 1
Key Word(s)
Author(s)
Company(s)
Document Date 12-Sep-1957
Public Availability Date 14-Feb-2002
DDRS Record Details for Record Accession Number
“N1D0026737”
Accession Number N1D0026737
Document Number 7534-1-NEG-T
Alternate Document Number 7534-1-NEG
Title Description FIRE PREVENTION – POSTERS, JEFFERSON GRADE SCHOOL CHILDREN IN CLASS AND AT NORTH RICHLAND FIRE STATION, WINDOW DISPLAY
Number of Pages 1
Key Word(s)
Author(s)
Company(s)
Document Date 10-Oct-1953
Public Availability Date 14-Feb-2002
DDRS Record Details for Record Accession Number
“N1D0039328”
Accession Number N1D0039328
Document Number 2380-1-NEG-A
Alternate Document Number 2380-1-NEG
Title Description LEWIS AND CLARK SCHOOL – FIRE POSTERS, FIRETRUCK AND LADDER DEMONSTRATION
Number of Pages 1
Key Word(s)
Author(s)
Company(s)
Document Date 12-Oct-1951
Public Availability Date 14-Feb-2002
DDRS Record Details for Record Accession Number
“N1D0055337”
Accession Number N1D0055337
Document Number 376-49-NEG-I
Alternate Document Number 376-49-NEG
Title Description FIRE PREVENTION WEEK (SCHOOL CHILDREN)
Number of Pages 1
Key Word(s) FIRE SAFETY,SCHOOL CHILDREN
Author(s)
Company(s)
Document Date 01-Oct-1949
Public Availability Date 14-Jun-2002
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