Passage 2013

Editor: Rochelle Blumenfeld's "Passage," painted in 2013 using acrylic paint, presents this intriguing formation of geometric shapes in muted, earthy tones. There’s a sense of movement, like something shifting or collapsing. How would you interpret this work? Curator: What's striking is Blumenfeld's use of acrylic, a synthetic material, to mimic the qualities we might associate with older, more traditional media like watercolor or fresco. Considering the title, "Passage," could the process of layering and blending the acrylic suggest a transformation, a movement through different material states? I wonder about the labour involved. What does the repetitive application of these washes mean in the artist's process? Editor: That’s interesting. It’s easy to overlook acrylic, maybe, since it’s so common. But thinking about it as a deliberate choice to mimic older techniques...that changes things. So, is she challenging the perceived value of "traditional" art forms? Curator: Precisely. By using a "modern," readily available material to evoke something that seems antique, Blumenfeld is perhaps questioning our relationship with both the historical and the contemporary. It draws attention to the choices involved in making art and the role of labor. Do the shapes remind you of anything? Arches perhaps? Editor: Yeah, now that you mention it, there are definitely arch-like forms. So maybe "passage" isn't just about the paint, but a gateway? Curator: Think about the implications. Are we passing through time? Through different production eras? Acrylic versus fresco. Industrial vs pre-industrial. Editor: It almost makes you reconsider the impact that even your selection of colors and geometric themes can have on portraying a grand idea like history itself. Thanks! Curator: The constant investigation of technique alongside concept—that’s where art truly thrives. Thanks for helping me re-consider this compelling work.