Study for "Great America" (Tunnel of Love) c. 1994

Editor: This is Kerry James Marshall's "Study for 'Great America' (Tunnel of Love)'" from around 1994, a pencil drawing. The figures in the water draw my eye. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a complex interplay between leisure, labor, and racial identity. Marshall’s preliminary sketch pushes us to consider how Black bodies have historically navigated and negotiated predominantly white spaces, particularly those of leisure. Are those boats filled with white families overlooking Black children who labor for their entertainment? What about the figures whose labor allows a theme park like “Great America” to flourish? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn’t considered the idea of labor within the context of an amusement park. It felt like it should just be fun, and happiness! Curator: Exactly! Marshall masterfully challenges the idealized imagery of leisure, inviting viewers to consider the often-unseen labor, socio-economic disparities, and the history of racial exclusion. How does the "Tunnel of Love," typically a space of romantic freedom, become complicated by racial dynamics? What if it’s not "fun and happiness" for all who visit and labor at these types of establishments? Editor: So, Marshall is using the amusement park setting to spark questions about who gets to experience joy and leisure in America? Curator: Precisely. And whose joy and leisure comes at whose expense. By centering Black figures in this landscape, Marshall reclaims and redefines these spaces, questioning who is seen, who is rendered invisible, and whose stories are told or omitted from dominant narratives of American culture. It prompts a vital dialogue about representation and power. Editor: I'm really beginning to see the deeper layers now – the relationship between leisure and the representation of Black figures, and how historical and socio-economic contexts really shift the understanding of this landscape. Curator: Absolutely. Thinking about this artwork helps me to look more critically at the world around me. Editor: For me too! This was a fun conversation. Thanks for sharing your insights!