Strata #277 1998

Editor: Here we have Susan Schwalb's "Strata #277," a square work featuring delicate horizontal lines. It's so subtle, almost ethereal. What can you tell me about the materials and process? Curator: Notice how Schwalb uses silverpoint, a drawing technique reliant on the slow accumulation of marks. The labor involved transforms the mundane into something precious, challenging our ideas about value and production. Editor: So, the act of making is just as important as the final image? Curator: Exactly. It’s about elevating craft through meticulous process, prompting us to reconsider what constitutes "high art" in our consumer culture. Editor: That's a fascinating perspective, I had not thought about it that way. Curator: Indeed, understanding the labor unveils the art’s true value.