Gold Rush 

Lucia Heffernan created this painting titled 'Gold Rush', which is made with traditional materials, most likely oils on canvas. The artist uses those materials to create an illusionistic likeness of a dog seated in a leather armchair, reading a book titled "Crypto for Newbies." The way the paint has been applied is smooth and even, a far cry from the manic energy of the crypto market that it depicts. The dog wears spectacles and is seated like a businessman of leisure. So the labor involved is all in the painting itself. It's a knowing commentary on the irrational exuberance of cryptocurrency investment. The artist seems to say that even a dog could get involved in this craze. Looking at the painting through the lens of its materials and making, and thinking about the social moment that it captures, we get a fuller sense of its meaning and purpose. It challenges us to think critically about the relationship between art, commerce, and culture.