Balustrade Relief Vase 1996

Editor: This is Betty Woodman's "Balustrade Relief Vase," a large ceramic piece. I’m struck by how it blurs the lines between painting, sculpture, and functional object. What materials and processes do you think are central to understanding this work? Curator: The materiality of the glazed earthenware is key. Woodman’s process challenges the traditional hierarchy of art and craft. Consider the labor involved in creating these complex forms. How does the vase's functionality, or lack thereof, play into its value as a commodity? Editor: It is true that the vase becomes purely aesthetic. I guess I had not considered the labor behind it all. Curator: Thinking about the production methods highlights the artist’s choices and the social context in which the work was made. Editor: That emphasis on both materials and labor really opens up new ways of thinking about this. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, and I've found a new appreciation for Woodman's craft as well.