Sled c. 1940

Curator: Welcome. We’re standing before "Sled," a drawing and carving made from wood and pencil circa 1940, attributed to Wayne White. Editor: There’s a rustic charm to this piece. It has an aged patina. The turquoise paint is lovely, with clear evidence of wear and tear. One imagines the joy and labor that has shaped this folk piece. Curator: It speaks to a very specific cultural memory of childhood and winter landscapes, doesn't it? The decorative motifs, that script...they whisper of a particular era. Perhaps you notice the name "Lettie Augusta Davis," adorned with a butterfly? It's as if the sled is a vessel not only of movement, but also of identity. Editor: It really raises questions about who "Lettie Augusta Davis" was, and what her connection to this object was. The work certainly transcends the utility we might initially assign to a child's sled, doesn’t it? The act of carving the wood and embellishing the piece is far removed from simple functional craftsmanship; this reveals love and value of decoration. The materials are so humble yet made precious. Curator: Absolutely. The artist may not be using a complex symbolic framework, but I suspect that in its construction and adornment, certain cultural values or associations were assigned. Sleds, in folk traditions, can carry not only children but deeper associations: family, home, and play. Editor: And in terms of its materiality, you can really imagine the artist’s hand in its making. I see labor invested into every part. Curator: Agreed. I can feel both nostalgia and history contained within this artifact. I can imagine what it may have carried beyond Lettie and can project upon it much history in my mind's eye. Editor: For me, it makes you think of resourcefulness; a simple construction refined with artful embellishments. This challenges any formal division between the work and those it served. Curator: Precisely! This piece invites us to find beauty in the everyday, transforming a simple utilitarian object into a vessel carrying rich cultural and emotional resonance. Editor: "Sled" has made me rethink the significance that lies dormant in everyday items. What other stories might humble artifacts reveal if we but pay close attention?