Virginia 2015

This photograph by Richard Ross captures a space in Virginia, and it makes me think about what's inside and outside. I'm looking at the blues and grays, and imagining Ross with his camera, looking for the right angle, thinking about perspective and light. What was it like for him to stand there, framing this shot, knowing what this space is? The institutional blue is so flat and even, but it's punctuated by these little barred windows. They look like musical notes on a staff. The wire on top zig zags over the composition. It brings a weird energy to the picture. The basketball hoops feel more symbolic than practical; they are just hanging there. It makes me think about the ways we try to soften or normalize harsh environments, and how the attempt can sometimes heighten the underlying sense of confinement. I think of other artists like Catherine Opie, Zoe Leonard, and Taryn Simon who explore the poetics and politics of space. The exchange of ideas never ends!