Pecos Bill had a ‘Thing’ about Household Dust 1978

Curator: This is Glen Baxter's small, monochromatic drawing, titled "Pecos Bill had a 'Thing' about Household Dust." Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by how this ordinary image takes on such an ominous quality. It's the way the man stares. Curator: Baxter often plays with the absurd juxtaposition of mundane activities and highbrow, often ominous, narrative. The grainy texture achieved through the printmaking process reinforces this. Editor: The window is a potent symbol here. Is it a barrier, a portal, or a mirror reflecting Pecos Bill’s inner turmoil? The dust becomes almost allegorical. Curator: Precisely! It speaks to the broader anxiety around labor, domesticity, and perhaps the futility of controlling one's environment. Editor: I see it as a commentary on the human psyche, how even legendary figures can be consumed by everyday anxieties. Curator: A fascinating intersection of the domestic and the mythical. Editor: Yes, Baxter offers a compelling reflection on the burdens we all carry, no matter how great.