Looking North at 121 Mile Marker 

Allan D'Arcangelo made this intriguing painting, "Looking North at 121 Mile Marker," which seems to question how we perceive the world through movement and observation. D'Arcangelo came of age in a post-war America, and the rise of automobile culture significantly shaped the cultural landscape, influencing artists to explore themes of travel, speed, and the changing American environment. The stark lines and flat planes create an almost detached sense of space, and the superimposition of images, like the miniature landscape, invites a layered reading. Is D’Arcangelo suggesting the fragmented nature of experience when we’re always on the move? The road, a powerful symbol, stretches out before us, evoking a sense of freedom and the American dream. The repetition of geometric shapes and the flatness of color nod to Pop Art, while retaining a more personal, almost melancholic, tone. The ambiguity of the landscape elements and the title’s specificity create a tension, pushing us to reflect on how personal experience intersects with broader societal themes of progress and identity.