Spur c. 1936

Gerald Transpota’s Spur, painted sometime between 1855 and 1995, conjures a world of the Wild West with its meticulous rendering of a cowboy’s riding tool. I can almost feel Gerald’s hand as he carefully applies the thin washes of color. I imagine him peering closely, trying to capture every minute detail of the spur. It's like he's translating not just the object, but also its weight, its history, and its feeling. You can almost feel the metal against leather. What I love about this is how it makes me think about all the other artists who've found inspiration in everyday objects, from Van Gogh’s shoes to Warhol’s soup cans. It reminds us that painting is a conversation across time, with artists borrowing, responding, and building upon each other’s ideas. It celebrates how art helps us slow down, pay attention, and find beauty in the most unexpected places.