Curatorial notes
Editor: This small oil painting, “Unlit” by Scott Fraser, has such an unexpected pairing of objects – a twisted yellow candle next to a piece of candy corn perched on what looks like an old oil can. The muted colors create a somewhat melancholy feeling, even with the candy. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a tableau steeped in the symbolism of time and transient pleasure. The candy corn, a quintessential symbol of autumn and fleeting childhood joys, rests atop the oil can. Notice the can’s patina. It suggests age, resilience, perhaps even a little bit of obsolete technology. Then, we have the snuffed candle – an almost universal emblem of ending, of remembrance, but also potential rebirth with each relighting. Do you notice how the artist arranges the height of each item? Editor: Yes, the candy corn is the highest, then the oil can, and finally, the short candle stub. It almost seems like a timeline, as you said, from temporary sweetness to lasting mementos, to eventual demise. Curator: Precisely. And what do these elements – sweets, oil, and the dimming of light – conjure for you regarding personal and cultural rituals or narratives? Editor: Maybe it’s about how we try to hold onto good memories and traditions, even as time marches on and things change? Like holding onto a memory of Halloween. Curator: A fitting parallel. I appreciate how Fraser uses these commonplace objects to tap into our collective memory and experiences. The artist asks, what symbols do we imbue with our histories and meaning? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way. I initially just saw an odd still life, but now it feels like a meditation on the passage of time and the power of shared symbols. Curator: Indeed. And these everyday artifacts can remind us of our ongoing story, if we learn how to decode them.