Alley Shadow 

Dan Graziano created this painting titled, *Alley Shadow*, and in it we see what feels like a stage set. The architectural style suggests a nod to early 20th-century urban development, when cities were rapidly industrializing and expanding. I wonder, what is Graziano trying to say? Is it the loss of these historic buildings and streetscapes? The high contrast of light and shadow not only creates depth but also a sense of mystery. I’m curious about the choice to have most of the image be cast in shadow, concealing the details of the architecture and urban environment. The windows are dark and the building turns into an ominous shape, so it feels less like a city and more like an echo of a place we might have known. *Alley Shadow* captures a moment of stillness that asks us to contemplate how urban spaces, like identities, are shaped by the passage of time.