Untitled (large Motel sign) 1961

Curator: John Howell's Untitled, taken sometime in the mid-20th century, features a large motel sign, captured in black and white, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought? It feels like a memory, slightly faded but somehow amplified by the stark contrast. There's a story here, lurking beneath those neon letters. Curator: Indeed. The negative image enhances the formal composition. Consider the layering of signage: "MOTEL," "Villa Moderne," "Allgauer's." Note the structural supports, mimicking a skeletal framework. Editor: And the "Combined Int'l Sales Conf." sign. It speaks of fleeting encounters, chance meetings. Maybe someone found love, or lost a deal, under that very sign. Curator: The typography, a mix of block letters and cursive, presents a visual hierarchy, guiding the viewer's eye and reinforcing the function of advertising through deliberate design. Editor: It's a poem disguised as a roadside attraction. Makes you wonder about all the stories whispered within those motel walls. Curator: It is a testament to Howell's ability to capture the mundane and elevate it to a study of form and function. Editor: Yes, a poignant reminder that even the most ordinary things are full of hidden beauty and fleeting moments.