Temple Creek Cañon 1875

Curator: Here we have a stereograph titled Temple Creek Cañon by John K. Hillers, an American photographer active in the late 19th century. The image invites us into a serene, if somewhat claustrophobic, canyon landscape. Editor: It's immediately striking how the rocks seem to almost embrace the water, isn't it? There's a primordial feel to it—like stepping back into a time before time, where geological forces are the main characters. Curator: Absolutely. Hillers was known for documenting the American West, and this stereograph, meant to be viewed with a special device to create a 3D effect, captures both the grandeur and the intimacy of these spaces. There's this sense of geological time, as you say, and then there’s the rush of the water, signifying passing time. Editor: And water, of course, is a symbol of cleansing, rebirth, and the unconscious. Here, contained by rock, it whispers of secrets held within the earth, histories etched in stone. The light, too, filters down, creating a sacred, almost cathedral-like space. Curator: Yes! And it's a reminder that even the most solid of structures are always in flux, shaped by the relentless flow of water. It’s a beautiful meditation on permanence and change. Editor: A quiet reminder to find stillness within movement. Thanks for pointing that out, I think I get it now.