In Edward Burtynsky’s photograph of a mammoth disposal site in Westley, California, tires take on an abstract quality, forming undulating mounds that sweep across the composition. However, the symbolic significance of the enormous pile of discarded material is very much on the mind of the artist. Burtynsky has undertaken an ongoing and multi-faceted examination of the oil industry’s impact on the environment. While many of his images focus on the raw material and refining process, the artist also considers the conundrum of our culture’s love of cars. Although automobiles enable a greater sense of personal freedom and convenience, they have spawned an intense dependence on oil and gasoline with alarming political and ecological consequences.