Sp. Col. Chest c. 1936

Curator: This is "Sp. Col. Chest," a watercolor by E. Boyd, created around 1936. What catches your eye first? Editor: Immediately, it’s the black background – so striking! It really makes those pastel shades of pink, green, and gold pop. There is something unsettling about such ornate work in this folk-art style. Curator: Yes, it is intentionally stylized! Knowing Boyd’s interest in folk art traditions of the Southwest, this work likely reinterprets the imagery and designs found on traditional Hispanic storage chests, considering the preservation, and presentation of this heritage. Think about what it meant to appropriate traditional forms in the 30’s. Editor: You know, looking at it now through that lens, the black background and the pale dogs flanking that overflowing central vase could be read as more than simply decorative. There is something distinctly unsettling about it that subverts any simple message of tradition, perhaps reflecting the complex social realities of its time. The dark background also highlights how there isn’t depth and brings forward certain iconographic qualities of mural painting traditions. Curator: Exactly, it speaks to a more significant question around who has the authority to represent cultural heritage and to what ends. Consider that the composition mimics heraldry – the placement of the dogs creates a visual suggestion of power or guarding. The presentation may offer insight into the cultural tensions during the New Deal era. Editor: And what is striking about the mural painting context you raised is the implicit accessibility, both for the original communities this folk art comes from, and a newer public. In this artwork the medium itself is the message and shows where art is displayed or consumed shapes the message itself. Curator: I find your thoughts so insightful! This piece continues to push me to rethink preconceived notions about cultural preservation and reinterpretation. Editor: Indeed! It’s in exploring the complex relationships between artistic traditions and societal power dynamics that art becomes a powerful catalyst for critical discourse.