Butter Mold 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have Wilbur M. Rice’s "Butter Mold," a watercolor and drawing piece created between 1935 and 1942. It feels very realistic, almost like a photograph. I’m struck by the artist's attention to detail in capturing the wood grain. What do you make of this depiction of such a mundane object? Curator: It’s fascinating how Rice elevates a common, utilitarian object through the artistic process. The materials are critical: the drawing, watercolor... what do they tell us? It underscores a critical shift. We see “high art” skills being used to examine everyday items, blurring the lines between fine art and craft. Consider the labour involved in creating both the original mold, a product of manual carving, and this representational drawing itself. It raises questions about value and what we consider worthy of artistic attention. Editor: So, you’re saying that by focusing on the *making* of the original mold, the artist forces us to rethink its inherent value beyond its function? Curator: Precisely! Think about the context. It’s the late 1930s. The Depression. Scarcity reigned. To spotlight something so simple… how does that affect the viewing? Is it about skill, documentation, or a quiet act of rebellion? What does it suggest about Rice’s awareness of consumerism or domestic labor? Editor: That's a totally new way of considering it. I was just thinking about its aesthetic qualities. Curator: Often, what appears most obvious is precisely where we need to dig deeper. It is a drawing, yes, but the very subject pushes the viewer to think beyond surface appreciation to considering what’s being represented and why. Editor: I definitely see this artwork differently now. It's much more than just a drawing of a butter mold! Curator: Exactly. And seeing it as part of larger material processes is a gateway to looking beyond.