Pat Sabatine’s Twelfth Birthday Party Possibly 1981 - 1983

Editor: This black and white photograph, "Pat Sabatine’s Twelfth Birthday Party" by Larry Fink, captures a figure holding a floral curtain. It feels so intimate, like a stolen moment. What do you see here? Curator: It's a compelling snapshot of social dynamics, isn't it? Fink often photographed marginalized communities, and even in this seemingly domestic scene, there’s a sense of observation, of witnessing something private being made public. How does that contrast impact your interpretation? Editor: It makes me wonder who this person is, and what their relationship is to the party, and even to the act of being photographed. Curator: Exactly! Fink's work often raises questions about power, class, and the gaze itself. It challenges viewers to consider their own role in observing these moments. Editor: I hadn't considered the power dynamics at play, that’s a really interesting aspect to consider. Curator: Art always exists within a social and historical context; Fink’s work reminds us to question whose stories are being told and how.