Santa Cruz Boardwalk Possibly 1973 - 1994

Curator: This captivating photograph is titled "Santa Cruz Boardwalk," by Richard Gordon. The exact year is uncertain, but it was likely taken between 1973 and 1994. Editor: It’s quite striking, a portrait composed in shades of gray, dominated by the figure of a man and the intriguing arrangement of figures that emerge around him. I’m immediately drawn to the texture in this print; the way the light catches across the different planes is something to note, indeed. Curator: What's fascinating to me is how this work really exemplifies the notion of street photography, acting almost as social commentary on labor, class, and presentation. What are your thoughts? Editor: I see that echoed in the materiality and layering. The subject is juxtaposed against backdrops that show animals—cats and dogs—implying themes around leisure, commerce, and possibly the commodification of nature. Curator: I couldn’t agree more! Especially considering the period during which it was probably shot. Consider also the layered implications embedded in gender roles through his own somewhat androgynous look combined with the young girl to his left—juxtaposing innocence, adulthood, labor and leisure! The work gives me pause to ponder where he and others fit in. Editor: Absolutely, and even more explicitly, look at the material traces. We're seeing the residue of labor, literally held in this man's arms, yet also the construction and arrangement within Gordon's photo—both forms are intrinsically bound up with the image we're studying today. It adds layers of visual intrigue while still addressing important issues surrounding how photographic images get constructed by someone like Richard Gordon. Curator: Thinking more about that commodification, the photograph almost seems to hint at who is performing for whom, here. There is no doubt this invites multiple perspectives, especially considering class implications combined with identity. It is clear Gordon wants you to look close, so you begin to formulate answers of your own, as he challenges our gaze. Editor: Definitely. It highlights our role, too, as viewers encountering it across time and distance. Ultimately, I leave seeing something both mundane yet poignant and timeless. Curator: And that's the magic. In a deceptively simple photograph, Gordon manages to pack such rich layers of meaning and association. It’s really rather masterly work when considering its sociohistorical impact, after all!