Drawing for the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Axonometric Color Study for Broadway and Quincy Street Elevations c. 20th century

Editor: So, this is James Stirling's "Drawing for the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Axonometric Color Study for Broadway and Quincy Street Elevations." It's a fascinating architectural sketch. What strikes me is how raw and technical it feels. What do you see in the drawing? Curator: I notice the means of architectural production laid bare. It's not just about aesthetics; it reveals the labor involved in designing a museum. Consider the material – the paper, the graphite – and how they are used to manifest a future building. How does it challenge traditional distinctions between art and utility? Editor: I suppose seeing the nuts and bolts of design makes it feel more utilitarian than artistic at first glance. I never thought of the paper itself as part of the artwork before. Curator: Precisely. By focusing on process, Stirling invites us to consider art's connection to labor and construction, blurring the lines between high art and the everyday act of building. What do you make of the repetition of the windows? Editor: That’s a good point; I see it now. Looking at it that way, it's less about the finished product and more about the process of getting there. Thanks!