Untitled (view onto street from overgrown backyard) c. 1970s

Editor: We're looking at an untitled photograph by John Gossage, from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a black and white image of an overgrown backyard looking out onto a street. The fence feels like a barrier between two worlds. What's your take on this piece? Curator: Gossage often explores the intersection of nature and the built environment. Consider how this image, seemingly simple, actually presents a carefully constructed commentary on suburban life. The overgrowth isn't just wild; it's a visual statement. What social commentary might Gossage be making here? Editor: Maybe he's suggesting that even in the most manicured settings, nature reclaims its space, or that there's a hidden wildness just beneath the surface of suburbia? Curator: Precisely. And think about the institutional framing of this image – how the museum's presentation shapes our understanding of the "everyday" as something worthy of artistic attention. It prompts us to consider the politics of what we choose to value and preserve. Editor: That's a great point. I'll definitely look at Gossage's work with a new perspective now.