SUNY Upstate University Hospital, Syracuse, New York

Red Granite, Stainless

24" x 22" x 17"

2006

A Civil Conversation is an example of Curtis's use of sculpture to express ideas about dialogue.

This sculpture was part of a series for an exhibition about the relationship between the United States and Japan. The exhibition was "about revisiting the relationship between the United States and Japan vis-a-vis the Second World War," explained Curtis. "Japan has become a major trading partner and economically really close to us, yet there are veterans who are still very, very bitter about the way that relationship was."

"I think that social interaction can be enhanced on the personal level, on public level, on the political level, on the world level by dialogue. You have an opinion or you could have a belief or you can have an absolute conviction. If you have a conviction about something, you're probably not changing your mind."