Curves and Squares 

Charles William Smith's "Curves and Squares" is an arrangement of fundamental forms, circles and squares, made with an eye toward modern aesthetics. These shapes may seem simple, but they have accrued deep symbolic weight over millennia. The circle, a symbol of wholeness and eternity, echoes the sun and the cosmos. The square, with its grounded, stable nature, has been used to represent the earth and the domestic space. Smith is playing with these basic shapes in a way that invites us to consider our place in the universe. Looking across epochs, we see these forms persist. From ancient mandalas with complex circular patterns to the grid-like layouts of modern cities, they reappear, subtly shaping our perceptions. Consider the emotional power of these shapes – the comforting, enclosing nature of a circle versus the rigid, defined boundaries of a square. These forms tap into our collective memory, speaking to the interplay between the infinite and the finite, the spiritual and the material. Smith invites a deeper emotional or psychological connection.