i am the people 1967

Curator: Corita Kent's "i am the people," now at the Harvard Art Museums, immediately strikes me with its bold color choices and dynamic composition. Editor: Yes, the layering of text and color creates an interesting tension, but I’m more intrigued by Kent's deliberate use of screen printing. Curator: Absolutely! The process allowed her to produce accessible art, engaging with social issues and the power of collective action. We see her taking Sandburg's words about the strength of the people, "I am the people--the mob--the crowd--the mass. Do you know that all the great work of the world is done through me?" and amplifying it. Editor: The materiality of screen printing, its accessibility, democratizes the message. It’s not just about the aesthetic, but the means of production. Curator: Precisely. The scale also contributes to its impact, creating a powerful statement about labor and social justice. Editor: It's a compelling piece when viewed through both lenses, one that challenges the viewer to consider the weight and power of artistic creation and also the collective.