[cover] 1970

Editor: Larry Rivers' "[cover]" presents a scrapbook-like depiction of Boston. The collage effect, with seemingly disparate images, feels almost like a commentary on fragmented memory and history. How do you interpret this work, especially considering the cultural context? Curator: Rivers, through his use of collage, directly engages with the layered and often contradictory narratives surrounding American history. Note the juxtaposition of the "BOSTON" title with images of colonial life and the almost haphazard arrangement. Do you think Rivers is making a statement about how we consume and understand our past? Editor: I think so. The messiness suggests a critique of idealized historical narratives, almost like peeling back the layers of a city's constructed image. Curator: Exactly. Rivers' piece challenges the viewer to question whose stories are being told and how those stories are presented by cultural institutions. A potent statement, wouldn't you agree?