Table c. 1953

This drawing of a table was made by John Garay. The drawing, with its warm brown hues and careful details, offers a window into a bygone era of craftsmanship. I can imagine Garay hunched over his desk, meticulously rendering each curve and line. Look at the way the light catches the tabletop, and the subtle shadows that define its form. It's clear Garay wasn't just documenting; he was celebrating the simple elegance of everyday objects. Thinking about his process, I wonder if he saw himself as part of a long lineage of artists and artisans, each building upon the work of those who came before. It's easy to imagine a conversation between Garay and painters like Giorgio Morandi, or even Agnes Martin. All are united through careful lines and tone. Painting is a form of slow looking, a way of paying attention to the world around us. We, as viewers, continue the slow looking that Garay began. We are all in conversation through art.