Gusto Enters The Race 

Curator: Dan Graziano's painting, "Gusto Enters the Race," crafted with oil paints using a plein-air technique, greets us today. What strikes you upon seeing this piece? Editor: Initially, it feels serene, almost contemplative. The muted blues and the way the light catches the sail create a peaceful, ethereal vibe. There’s a sense of quiet anticipation hanging in the air. It reminds me of those slow-motion moments right before something exciting happens. Curator: It’s intriguing how the artist has positioned us, the viewers, almost directly behind the boat. It brings into consideration a common visual theme - that of a vessel. Across various cultures, a ship sailing on water frequently acts as a potent symbol of our journey, existence, and destiny. This painting really seems to underscore that, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. Looking at it more, it seems that feeling of anticipation carries a slight tension too. You’re aware they are waiting for something important, and that gives a little jolt to that initial calm. You almost feel a kinship with them, waiting for the wind to take hold and carry you forward on whatever journey you’re facing in life. Curator: Consider, too, how plein-air painting emphasizes direct observation. Do you see any symbolism related to time in that? Editor: Now that you point that out, yes. I feel like plein-air works perfectly here. It makes me reflect on the moments we’re capturing; each one is fleeting, just like a sailboat's progress as it uses the winds of nature. And that soft palette – so much less rigid and more organic than I expected—creates an image suspended somewhere between dream and lived moment. Curator: Beautifully observed. Perhaps "Gusto Enters the Race" offers us, then, a symbol of life as a journey—waiting for those winds that carry us to our dreams. Editor: Yes, a gentle reminder to embrace both the calm and the coming adventures. The human condition can always find symbols around. It may have seemed initially simple but that open question and symbolic meaning truly adds a new layer of contemplation to "Gusto Enters the Race" for me.