Abestine of New York 

Curator: Looking at "Asbestine of New York," made by the International Pulp Co., I am struck by its stark simplicity. It's unsettling. Editor: Unsettling? I see a very clinical presentation of a seemingly harmless, powdery substance. But the very title speaks to a hidden danger, given what we know today about asbestos. Curator: Exactly! It reminds us of the art world's complicity in using materials without fully understanding their long-term impact on artists' health and the environment. Editor: It's a potent reminder of corporate responsibility, or the lack thereof, in the face of profit. The label itself feels like a historical document of that negligence. Curator: Yes, and it forces us to consider the social and economic context in which this material was produced and distributed. Editor: Absolutely. It's a seemingly innocuous object that encapsulates a much larger narrative of industrial exploitation. What a powerful piece, when you consider all of that.