Untitled (neon lights at night; a faucet) c. 1950

Curator: This piece, simply titled "Untitled," by Jack Gould, captures the ethereal glow of neon lights. What's your initial impression? Editor: Electric! I love the density of the black contrasting with the luminosity of the neon. It makes me think about the physical properties of light and how those tubes are fabricated. Curator: Absolutely, and the choice of subject matter – a faucet and the words "FRIEDE PLUS CLUB" – evokes a specific place and time, a sort of urban poetry. I wonder about the socio-economic context of this signage. Editor: Right, I’m intrigued by the club name, too. I imagine the neon work being mass-produced, destined to adorn some forgotten storefront. It’s a working-class aesthetic, using industry to create culture. Curator: It’s true. It feels both very specific and also universally relatable. Gould captures a sense of fleeting beauty, a melancholic glimmer. Editor: I see that too. So, we move from considering labor to a meditation on light and time. I’m into that.