Jones Beach 1979

Curator: Elaine Mayes’ photograph, "Jones Beach," shows us a crowded beach, but it is the embracing couple in the foreground that first grabs my eye. Editor: Yes, they are the main focal point. There is something very intimate and somewhat melancholy about them that contrasts to the beachgoers. Curator: It's interesting, isn't it? Mayes seems to invite us to consider the spectacle of public life versus the quiet moments of private emotion. How do these interactions shape the public space? Editor: I think the photograph captures something true about beaches, they are simultaneously full of life, yet often feel a bit lonely. The couple are so close, yet remain anonymous figures in a crowd. Curator: Absolutely. Mayes captured a layered truth, I think. A kind of quiet drama amidst the bright, bustling energy of the beach. Editor: It makes me think about the stories we each carry, visible only to a few, even in our most public moments.