Peter Procamie, Perkins School 1991

Editor: This is Nicholas Nixon’s photograph of Peter Procamie at the Perkins School. The textures in the knit sweater are so prominent. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Nixon's work consistently grapples with the processes of aging, sickness, and social structures. Consider the labor involved in knitting that sweater, the time, the material resources, and the social context of craft versus art. Editor: So, you're saying the sweater isn't just clothing; it's a statement about value and work? Curator: Precisely. The photograph itself, a material object, also participates in this dialogue about production and consumption. Are we consuming an image or engaging with a social reality? Editor: I never thought about it that way, seeing the photo as part of a larger system of production and meaning. Thanks! Curator: It's about tracing the material and social life of the artwork, from its creation to its reception.