Mark Upton at Home 1988

Curator: Looking at Bruce Cratsley's photograph, "Mark Upton at Home," I'm immediately struck by the intimacy, almost a conspiratorial air. It's as if we've caught Upton in a private moment. Editor: Yes, there's a tenderness to it, but I also see a studied ambiguity. The soft focus almost romanticizes Upton, yet it also withholds something. Given Cratsley's documentation of queer life, is this tenderness protective, perhaps? Curator: That's interesting! I hadn’t considered that specific tension, but I do think it plays into the broader narrative of visibility and the act of seeing. It’s a lovely, quiet piece that speaks volumes about its time, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. It reminds us that portraiture isn't just about capturing a likeness; it's about power, representation, and the stories we choose to tell – or not tell.