Tommy, Toast and Gin 2019

Editor: So, this is Carrie Graber’s 2019 acrylic painting, "Tommy, Toast and Gin." It has this domestic stillness to it, but something also feels slightly…off. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see a contemporary commentary on societal expectations and the performance of domesticity, especially for women. The seemingly mundane scene of making toast is infused with a subtle rebellion. What does it mean to present a traditionally feminine space—the kitchen—with this… edge? Editor: Edge? Curator: Yes, the gin. The clashing patterns of the floral wallpaper and Tommy's pants create a visual dissonance. Consider the title. What’s the significance of naming him, then itemizing his questionable breakfast? It invites us to consider Tommy's position. Editor: So you see the bright, kitsch aesthetic as subversive? It’s like Graber's is inviting us to question the pressures of home life? Curator: Exactly! Graber uses pop-art sensibilities to discuss serious issues. Are we looking at commentary on substance use as self-medication against societal pressure? Or a playful commentary on traditional gender roles? Editor: That makes so much sense. The work feels light on the surface, but when you look at it through the lens of social expectations, you realize the depths it presents. Curator: Precisely. Graber has made a great work on being aware and making commentary, which really stuck with me.