Gum 2005

This is "Gum," a photograph by Julie Blackmon. Look at how light is used to create a scene that feels so familiar, it’s like the memory of a half-forgotten dream, and then the composition pulls you up short, with its strange and unsettling qualities. Blackmon carefully arranges the objects and people in her photos, letting the viewer see the artifice involved. In this piece, the golden curtain glows like a stage backdrop. The suitcases are stacked like props and that white dresser is the main event. The eye travels up and down that dresser, taking in all the textures and tones. The details are what make this photo so intriguing. I love the way the light catches the edge of the mirror, or the way the red luggage contrasts with the green one. Blackmon's images always remind me of the work of Gregory Crewdson, who makes similarly unsettling images of seemingly normal suburban scenes. It’s a reminder that art is a conversation. We’re all in dialogue with those who came before us.