“AMERICA â€?Love it or leave itâ€?â€?El Monte, California 1969

Curator: This is Dennis Feldman’s photograph, “AMERICA ‘Love it or leave it’ El Monte, California,” a stark image of Americana. Editor: The first thing I notice is how the black and white medium renders everything with a sense of melancholic nostalgia. The car seems imposing, yet isolated. Curator: The photograph captures a particular moment, perhaps the late 60s or early 70s, when this phrase was gaining traction as a deeply divisive sentiment. Editor: And that bumper sticker reading "AMERICA" feels less like patriotism and more like a threat, especially juxtaposed with the mundane motel setting. Curator: Exactly. Feldman's work often explores the complexities of American identity, especially in relation to political rhetoric and social realities. Editor: It pushes us to question whose "America" is being invoked and at what cost, a question that continues to resonate today. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a deceptively simple image that reveals layers of social and political tension. Editor: A poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle to define and live up to the ideals of "America."