Bootjack c. 1942

Curator: Alexander Anderson created this work, "Bootjack," around 1942, using watercolor and drawing techniques. What catches your eye initially about this piece? Editor: Well, it’s funny; I immediately thought of Pinocchio’s nose! There’s something so simple yet suggestive about its form, this humble piece of wood transformed into art. I find myself wanting to touch it, feel the worn grain. It has this almost haunting stillness, don’t you think? Curator: Yes, the simplicity invites closer inspection. A bootjack is an object of utility, meant for removing boots—yet Anderson elevates it, making it the sole focus. There's an intersection of class, labor, and rural life happening. During the 1940s, art shifted with the rise of Modernism, but some artists, like Anderson, preserved representational work celebrating Americana. How does that resonate with you, knowing its cultural context? Editor: It does change my perspective, grounding my initial whimsy in a specific time and place. It’s interesting how a utilitarian object like this evokes so much, and its unassuming nature allows my imagination to project stories onto it. Curator: Absolutely, it invites us to reconsider the art inherent in the everyday. Think about who owned it, who made it, who it served. Anderson, by highlighting this single object, prompts a reflection on broader questions of value, and social standing, really. How does that relate to art of our time? Editor: Oh, massively! I think art now wrestles with those same questions, that constant renegotiation between beauty, usefulness, and the human narrative. We assign value to anything and everything—sometimes without even thinking. I appreciate how this piece reminds me to consider what gets overlooked. And maybe to tug harder when my boots get stuck… Just kidding! Mostly. Curator: So, as we leave this piece, perhaps we can reflect on the stories behind the objects that fill our lives. Editor: Absolutely! I will definitely look at my own bootjack (metaphorical, of course; I am terrible with cowboy boots), with a newfound appreciation. Maybe it has stories of its own to whisper…