Untitled (No. Calif.) 1984

Curator: Bill Dane's "Untitled (No. Calif.)" presents us with a striking black and white photograph; it resides in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: My first thought is that there’s an intriguing juxtaposition of the mythical and the earthy. The dragon seems fierce, yet there's a playfulness in the surrounding imagery of nature. Curator: It's worth considering how Dane frames roadside Americana with artistic intention. The dragon and owl may represent opposing forces, a commentary on cultural symbolism. Editor: Absolutely. The dragon embodies power, the owl, wisdom. Are they guardians? Are they totems? I wonder what cultural narratives are woven into this scene. Curator: The lack of specific details surrounding the photograph's date highlights the broader cultural conversation it invites. The art resides in how these artifacts operate publicly. Editor: In that case, perhaps the artist is saying, in every cultural landscape, wisdom and power are in constant negotiation. This photograph is a reminder of that. Curator: A reminder, certainly, of the constructed narratives we project onto our world. Editor: Precisely. A fleeting image speaks volumes about the stories we tell ourselves, generation after generation.