Polly Put the Kettle On 

Curator: I’m captivated by "Polly Put the Kettle On" by Scott Gustafson, isn't it charming? The entire piece invites a bit of childhood wonder, don’t you think? Editor: I must admit, initially, the saturation grabs me. That high gloss and sugary sheen on every surface suggests mass-produced fantasy… like something off of a child's book or toy packaging. What is this piece rendered in, if I may ask? Curator: I believe it’s a painting, which makes the detail even more remarkable. The animals dressed in Victorian clothing enjoying tea alongside a little girl -- each detail feels lovingly rendered, with textures you can almost feel. The parrot’s feathery frock coat against the stiff porcelain of the tea set… Editor: Precisely! That's where the material tension comes into play. You’ve got this supposed scene of domestic comfort being played out through the labor of painting. A scene celebrating manners is rendered with high labor! There’s something faintly troubling in the layers upon layers of this painting if one pulls back on all its layers. Curator: Troubling in what way? I see it as joyful. The textures create warmth—the soft curls of the guinea pig's wig, for instance. It almost makes you wish you were invited to their fantastical little party. It inspires happiness, as art can be transporting. Editor: Sure, sure—it’s "transporting." But who benefits from that transport? To achieve this hyper-real domesticity and warmth, there is material manipulation, economic forces propping up a tradition... It’s romantic, I’ll give you that! And executed to a high technical standard! Curator: True—but it makes me question how much is hidden within those “economic forces”? Is it innocent pleasure or an attempt to grapple with society reflected in fantasy? Editor: It’s probably a little of both, wouldn't you say? We're seeing through the lens of childhood simplicity, there’s no denying that initial spark. Curator: A toast then—to finding new ways to invite viewers to experience art in all its forms, even if it’s a "child's party".