Betwixt 2018

Carrie Graber painted this image, Betwixt, using traditional oil on canvas. The painting demonstrates the ways in which an artist’s application of a medium informs an artwork's appearance and meaning. The artist has created high contrast in both color and shadow. This creates a scene with depth and striking architectural elements, with shadows that almost resemble ironwork. While oil paint is a common medium, the artist's technique imbues the painting with social and cultural significance. It’s a contemporary scene, yet the setting feels retro due to the breezeblock wall. This type of wall is made from modular concrete blocks, a mass-produced unit, which evokes the rapid suburbanization of postwar America. The labor involved in the production and manufacturing of these types of materials reflects wider issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Ultimately, it emphasizes the importance of materials and context in fully understanding the meaning of the artwork, blurring the distinction between fine art and design.