When my father died, at the age of 90, my two sisters and I set about going through dozens of boxes stored in his garage. The documents and photographs we found were proof of something I long suspected: throughout his life, my father was deeply involved in covert government activities, many involving the development and dissemination of weapon systems and technologies.
Atomic Love Poem is a testimonial to the work my father did in service to his country, much of which will never be known or directly attributed to him. It’s about me, his photographer daughter who, after discovering his negatives and photographs, determined his extraordinary vision warranted a wider audience. And it’s about my need to put the pieces of a long dormant puzzle together by combining elements of history, culture, and current events, with my personal memories and perspectives.
My father was only one of many who contributed to the development and dissemination of nuclear weapons. He did so because he believed that it would make America and the world safer and more secure. I wonder what he would think today.
Janice Levy
Professor of Photography
Ithaca College