Turn On Red 

Curator: This oil painting by Dan Graziano is titled "Turn On Red," and it seems to depict a fairly common urban scene. I’m immediately struck by its vibrancy. What’s your initial take? Editor: A collision! Not literally, but the composition throws together different eras, different paces of life. The horse-drawn carriage against the backdrop of modern cars and buildings creates a visual friction, a fascinating kind of disharmony. Curator: Indeed. The horse and carriage immediately command the viewer's attention. For centuries, the horse has represented power, status, even freedom. Does that resonate here? Editor: I wonder. While the horse might traditionally symbolize freedom, here it's harnessed, quite literally bound to the demands of the tourist industry. It raises questions about labor, about tradition commodified. Are these gentle giants historical symbols or simply entertainers, cogs in the contemporary urban machine? Curator: I see your point. Looking closer, the traffic light stuck on red looms, a potent symbol. Red often signals warning, danger, even prohibition. It injects a sense of unease into what at first seems like a picturesque scene. The painting pushes against idyllic images of this mode of transport and offers something else. Editor: Absolutely, and notice the palette itself. Despite the lively brushwork, there’s a muted quality, a sort of urban haze that diminishes the colors. This isn't a romanticized cityscape; it's grounded, raw even, reflecting the reality of the city for its residents. Curator: And Graziano's embrace of plein-air painting, capturing the scene directly from life, adds to that sense of immediacy, don't you think? He’s not recreating an idealized image from memory, he’s engaging with the city in real-time. Editor: Which allows for those authentic, slightly unsettling juxtapositions. "Turn On Red," with its mix of modes and muted colors, invites us to see the city not as a static backdrop but as a place of ongoing negotiation between past and present. Curator: A fitting assessment, reflecting on cultural heritage, historical processes, and the reality of labor, this work certainly makes an interesting point. Editor: Yes. Next time I encounter one of these carriages, I’ll remember this artwork and give its context a second thought!