Moving Away 1985

Editor: So, this is "Moving Away," painted in 1985 by Miriam Schapiro. It's an acrylic on canvas, and right off the bat, I’m struck by how busy it is! There's so much pattern and texture competing for attention. What do you see in this piece, given that intense material presence? Curator: It's that 'busy-ness' that grabs me too. Schapiro’s work is all about collapsing the hierarchy between fine art and traditionally "feminine" crafts like quilting and needlework. Look closely – you'll see she incorporates fabric scraps, lace, and other traditionally domestic materials directly onto the canvas alongside the acrylic paint. What does that choice of material suggest to you, in contrast to, say, oil paint? Editor: It makes me think about the labor involved. Oil painting feels elevated, while the fabrics… it makes me think of someone spending hours sewing or mending. A completely different type of making, one often invisible or undervalued. Curator: Exactly! Schapiro was a key figure in the Pattern and Decoration movement. These artists sought to elevate those undervalued crafts and the labor inherent within them. Consider also the title, “Moving Away”. The composition is so fractured, could this be a statement about shifting social landscapes? What materials and methods were deemed appropriate for artmaking, and by whom? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. The patterns do feel almost chaotic, as if these domestic crafts are bursting out of their traditional roles. So, it’s less about the subject matter itself, and more about how Schapiro elevates the *materials* and the process? Curator: Precisely. She reclaims and celebrates materials and making practices often dismissed as merely decorative, thus inherently challenging dominant, patriarchal notions of "high" art. Do you find that alters how you understand the artwork? Editor: Definitely. Before, the busyness felt a bit overwhelming, but now I see it as a deliberate act of defiance and celebration, highlighting undervalued labor. Curator: Indeed, a powerful reminder that artistic value is intrinsically linked to the social context of production and the materials chosen. Editor: I’ll never look at a "decorative" pattern the same way again. Thanks!