Untitled (church service) c. 1970

Curator: Ken Whitmire Associates' silver gelatin print, "Untitled (church service)," offers a stark, high-contrast view into a moment of quiet contemplation. Editor: It's strikingly sparse, almost chilling. The rows of figures, mostly obscured, create a sense of enforced uniformity. Curator: The image definitely resonates with Michel Foucault's ideas about institutional power and the architectural control of bodies. The church, traditionally a space of solace, here seems to impose order. Editor: Yes, the crucifix looms large, but almost as a symbol of that order. The repetition of forms – the pews, the lights, the figures – it all seems calculated to diminish the individual. Curator: Absolutely. Consider also the context of its creation; we might interpret the image as speaking to broader issues of conformity and dissent within communities. Editor: For me, it's the starkness of the light and shadow. It strips away any warmth or comfort, leaving behind an almost clinical depiction of faith. Curator: It's a powerful testament to how architecture and social structures can shape our experience and even our belief systems. Editor: And how symbols, even those meant to inspire, can also carry the weight of expectation and control.