Handle with Care! 1967

Corita Kent made "Handle with Care!" using screen printing, a process that democratized artmaking. The bold colors, overlapping text, and simplified shapes create an immediate visual impact. Screen printing allows for flat, vibrant colors, which Corita layers to create depth and movement. The choice of this medium is significant; it's a technique often associated with commercial printing, used for posters and advertisements. Corita elevates this accessible medium to fine art, blurring the lines between high and low culture. This process is labor-intensive, requiring careful layering of colors and precise alignment. The imperfections, like slight misregistrations, are embraced as part of the aesthetic, highlighting the hand-made quality within a mechanically reproduced medium. By using a technique accessible to many, Corita democratizes art, taking it out of the exclusive realm of traditional painting and sculpture. She reminds us that art can be found in everyday materials and processes, challenging conventional hierarchies within the art world.