Stairs 1974

Editor: Mimi Smith's "Stairs" presents a rather unusual image. It looks like a pencil drawing of a staircase, but the treads and risers seem to be marked with measuring tape. What's your read on this piece? Curator: Notice how Smith uses the readymade—the measuring tape—not for its intended purpose, but as a design element. This draws attention to the labor involved in both creating the physical staircase and representing it. What does it tell us about the commodification of space, about domestic work, and about the tools we use to define our environment? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't thought about the labor aspect so directly. Thanks for your insight! Curator: My pleasure. It's about seeing beyond the surface, and questioning the materials that build our world, quite literally in this case.