Open Cut 6th Ave 1939

Editor: This is Charles Keller’s 1939 drawing "Open Cut 6th Ave," made with graphite. I’m really struck by the detail in depicting this construction scene. How would you interpret this piece? Curator: Well, immediately, I’m drawn to consider the material reality it presents. Look at the way Keller uses graphite to illustrate the raw materials: wood, dirt, metal. It emphasizes the physicality of labor. Do you think this focus has an impact on how we view the scene? Editor: Definitely. It's not just a picture of construction; it’s about the effort, the sheer labor involved. Curator: Exactly! And thinking about the social context: 1939, late in the Great Depression. Projects like these were lifelines, providing employment and reshaping the urban landscape. Consider the process too: the labor of the workers is mirrored by Keller’s labor in producing such a detailed piece, creating value through work. What kind of value do you think he ascribes to this type of labor? Editor: Maybe he’s trying to elevate the working class, making their efforts visible and worthy of artistic representation. Curator: Precisely! It challenges that high art/low art divide by making the working class the central subject, doesn't it? It also urges us to confront the means of production inherent not just in the scene depicted but in art itself. Now that we've spoken about the social context and labor what are you key takeaways about the process that was adopted by the artist? Editor: Thinking about it all now, this work isn’t just a snapshot; it’s a statement about work, materials, and social realities, layered with both Keller’s work in creation as well as those who built 6th Ave. Curator: I agree. The piece successfully interweaves social commentary with a meticulous depiction of labor and materials. A truly impactful work when you dig deeper.