C-lective Curator’s Cut:

There’s a Fire Over There positions the viewer behind Callan Porter-Romero’s signature carved cardboard hand, holding a pair of binoculars and observing a deep navy night punctuated by a city ablaze. The hand symbolizes connection and labor, the ways we reach and support one another, while the perspective creates both distance and safety, placing us behind the railing as we witness the events unfolding below. A spotlight-like ring around the burning city draws attention to the scene. Whether reflecting California’s frequent wildfires or offering a meditation on finding security and solidarity within one’s community while witnessing challenges elsewhere, the work invites contemplation on perspective, care, and the spaces that hold us.