Untitled (outdoor ceremony arrangement, St. Louis, Missouri) after 1960

Editor: This is an untitled photograph of an outdoor ceremony arrangement in St. Louis, Missouri, by Martin Schweig. The rows of empty chairs create a silent expectancy. What symbols resonate with you in this image? Curator: The white runner cutting through the verdant scene immediately strikes me. White, of course, represents purity and new beginnings in Western cultures. Notice how it leads toward the trellised structure, a symbol of shelter and growth, suggesting a journey into a new chapter of life. Editor: I hadn't considered the trellis as a symbol of growth. Curator: Indeed, and the carefully arranged chairs evoke the community’s role in witnessing and supporting this personal rite of passage. What lasting memories do you think are made here? Editor: I’ll think about that, thanks!