Straw Plate 1971

Editor: This is Mary Fedden's "Straw Plate." The interplay of the still life objects and the landscape backdrop feels quite unexpected. How would you interpret this combination? Curator: Well, considering the material processes, the "straw plate" itself is a crafted object. It places everyday labor, traditionally separated from "high art," right at the center. The composition prompts us to consider the labor of the artisan versus the labor of the artist. Editor: That's a fascinating way to look at it! I hadn't thought about the class implications of the materials. Curator: Fedden is engaging with the means of production. The image is not just the representation of objects, but about the cultural context of object-making. Editor: I learned a lot by focusing on the materiality of the items depicted. Thank you.