The Boy who Cried Wolf! 

Editor: Here we have "The Boy Who Cried Wolf!" by Scott Gustafson, a watercolor painting. It definitely has a whimsical, storybook feel to it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, I’m drawn to the construction of the image itself, the layering of the watercolor washes to build depth and texture. The deliberate choice of a readily accessible medium like watercolor, often associated with illustration and “lower” art forms, is crucial. How does Gustafson’s selection challenge our assumptions about what constitutes high art? Editor: That's an interesting point! I hadn’t considered how the materials themselves could be a statement. Is he saying that craft can be art? Curator: Precisely! Think about the historical context. Watercolor was traditionally a tool for studies or illustrations, a preparatory stage rather than a final artwork. Gustafson elevates this humble medium, using painstaking technique to create something both accessible and visually rich. It makes you think about the labor involved and the potential for re-evaluating craft within the wider art world. Consider, too, how the tale is so obviously a fable - what material reality underpins morality? Editor: So it's not just about the narrative, but also about questioning our perception of materials and artistic processes? It's quite clever, how he can take accessible fable narrative with more accessible medium. Curator: Absolutely. By highlighting the “means of production,” the materiality of the artwork becomes an integral part of its meaning. That sheep might bleat about something other than the lack of wolves... Editor: I never thought about watercolors in this way. I always saw them as simple and straightforward, but they're much more than that. Curator: And that's the point, isn't it? To question the seemingly self-evident nature of the art making!