Untitled (Oakland) 1980

Editor: This is Bill Dane's "Untitled (Oakland)," a black and white photograph. The starkness and unusual subject matter – an elephant kneeling on pavement next to a baby stroller – give it a really unsettling feeling. What's your take? Curator: The photograph captures a moment where the spectacle of the circus clashes with the everyday. Note the texture of the elephant juxtaposed against the cold, hard asphalt and the mundane stroller. What does this juxtaposition suggest to you about the role of animals as public spectacle? Editor: That's a good point. It really does bring out the artificiality of the scene, and makes me question how we’ve normalized seeing animals this way. Curator: Exactly. Dane pushes us to consider the socio-political implications of such displays and their impact. Editor: I hadn't considered that before, but I see it now. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Art reveals so much about our shared history.