Gray Slate Flour (Native Slate) 

Editor: This is Gray Slate Flour, by C.K. Williams & Co. It's a manufactured pigment. I find it interesting that the presentation, the jar and card, are part of the artwork. What do you see in it? Curator: The pigment points to the industrial roots of art making, and how resources are extracted, commodified, and used. C.K. Williams’ materials were globally sourced, so how does this relate to colonialism and labor? Editor: That's interesting, I didn't consider that. So, the slate isn't just a color, it's a material with a specific history. Curator: Exactly. Thinking about its origins connects it to environmental and social justice issues. I wonder, too, about the concept of "native slate". What does that imply in terms of ownership and place? Editor: I see. Thinking about it this way really changes how I view the work. Curator: It's a reminder that even the simplest materials have complex stories.