Untitled, from the series Dingbat 1982

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph from the "Dingbat" series by Judy Fiskin, taken in 1982. It's a black and white image of an apartment building; its symmetry and the almost clinical quality of the light make it feel strangely detached. What visual symbols stand out to you? Curator: Immediately, my eye goes to the facade: the number "912" centered like a sacred inscription, flanked by what appear to be stylized starbursts and wavy lines. Think of those repetitive motifs, especially the waves; what do they evoke for you? Is it a sense of movement, or perhaps something else? Editor: The repetition makes me think of mid-century modern design. A sense of optimism perhaps, or the Space Age? Curator: Precisely! These architectural details become encoded messages, echoing a specific time and place, particularly Southern California's post-war boom. These aren't mere decorations; they're visual signifiers that carry social and cultural weight. They act like glyphs from a lost alphabet, hinting at aspirations and aesthetics. Editor: So, Fiskin's photograph isn't just capturing a building, but also a specific cultural moment frozen in time. The stars and waves function as symbolic anchors to the past? Curator: Exactly. Fiskin's careful framing draws attention to how even mundane architecture carries within it cultural memory. It prompts us to consider how these symbolic languages shape our perceptions and experiences of the built environment. Editor: That's a great perspective. I now look at these everyday elements differently! Curator: Indeed. The power of art is its ability to see the ordinary in new and fascinating ways.