Take-Out 

Dan Graziano's oil on panel painting, *Take-Out*, captures a roadside food stand bathed in the bright light of midday. Dominating the scene is the Pepsi-Cola sign, a ubiquitous symbol of Americana, promising refreshment and a quick escape. But this sign is more than mere advertising. Consider the power of branding: the red, white, and blue, mirrored in countless iterations of corporate logos, tap into our collective psyche. The colors evoke patriotism, trust, and even a sense of belonging. Think of the swastika or the Christian cross. The Pepsi logo, in its own way, functions similarly— a symbol loaded with cultural weight. Yet, unlike the cross, the meaning of the Pepsi logo shifts with each new marketing campaign. It evolves, adapts, and reinvents itself to stay relevant. Much like a god in a polytheistic pantheon, it embodies our desires, anxieties, and aspirations. The bright soda, a momentary bliss, is a modern-day Dionysian ecstasy.