Sky Nets 1976

Curator: Nathan Lerner created "Sky Nets" in 1976. What a strangely evocative image. Editor: It is, isn’t it? Bleakly beautiful. The contrast is wonderful—this strange man-made structure sharply silhouetted against a very fluid, cloudy sky. A visual dichotomy. Curator: Right, and beyond just contrast, there’s the juxtaposition of geometric, rigid lines with the seemingly organic netting draped above. I see, perhaps, a tension between control and surrender, structure and chaos. What could these nets symbolize, especially when juxtaposed with the boundless sky? Editor: That lattice is really fascinating. The repetition of those vertical and horizontal lines gives the piece this remarkable sense of depth, right? It’s not just flat; it's architectural. Curator: Exactly! Think about nets as cultural objects. Throughout history and across various cultures, they appear as symbols of connection, community, entrapment, or even protection. Consider the religious symbolism; in some traditions, a net represents the interconnectedness of all beings or the means by which souls are caught. Editor: Hmmm, interesting. The composition also leads my eye upwards to this area in the upper left quadrant with so many more lines where it meets a set of support structures… creates movement toward some ambiguous end point. Does that imply directionality to you, a reaching upwards or a limiting horizon? Curator: Definitely! Visually, I find those higher nets intriguing as a symbol for spiritual aspiration—reaching for something beyond our grasp, hinting at celestial realms. It could reference older concepts, perhaps allusions to capturing luck or even deflecting evil… These interpretations provide layers beyond the simple depiction of an architectural scene. Editor: Well, viewing it now through your eyes I feel as though my attention, drawn by stark tonality and shape, is rewarded with deeper questions of meaning that only those shapes can suggest, not determine. It takes the image to another level. Curator: Exactly! Thank you.